LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


THE   LIFE 


JOHN    COLLINS   ¥ARREN,  M.D. 


COMPILED    CHIEFLY 


FROM  HIS  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  AND  JOURNALS. 

Ml  3 1 

wi 

BT  v 

EDWARD    WARREN,    M.D. 


IN     TWO     VOLUMES. 
VOL.    I. 


BOSTON: 
TICK  NOR     AND      FIELDS 

M.DCCC.LX. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1859,  by 

J.    SULLIVAN   WARREN, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


BOSTON: 
PRINTED    BY    JOHN    WILSON    AND    SON, 

22,  SCHOOL  STREET. 


TO 


JAMES   JACKSON,   M.D. 


FOR  FIFTY  YEARS  THE  FAITHFUL  FRIEND  AND  ADVISER  OF  DR.  WARREN, 


ttolumes   are  gratefully 


HIS     CHILDREN. 


PREFACE. 


DR.  WARREN  had  early  formed  the  design  of  preparing 
materials  for  a  biography.  For  this  purpose,  he  formed, 
in  the  first  place,  a  chronological  record,  —  setting  down  from 
recollection,  as  far  as  possible,  some  important  event  in  each  year, 
by  which  that  year  should  be  marked,  and  his  memory  recalled  to 
that  period  of  time,  —  so  as  to  serve  as  a  nucleus,  around  which 
should  gather  other  recollections  and  incidents. 

He  next  commenced  a  list  of  subjects  ;  to  which  he  added  from 
time  to  time,  as  matters  of  interest  occurred  to  him.  This  list 
furnished  him  with  heads,  from  which  he  could  select  as  inclination 
or  opportunity  prompted.  Thus  he  formed  what  he  termed  his 
"  Biographical  Notes."  These  were  written,  by  his  dictation,  in 
his  leisure  hours,  —  chiefly  upon  loose  sheets  of  paper,  so  as  to  be 
susceptible  of  change  of  arrangement,  —  mostly  about  the  years 
1849,  1850.  To  these  he  added  "  Surgical  Notes,"  commenced  in 
1849,  and  carefully  revised,  some  years  after,  by  himself. 

The  letters  written  from  Europe  during  the  period  of  his 
early  studies  in  England,  Scotland,  and 'France,  have  been  pre 
served  with  care,  and  are  of  great  interest,  as  displaying  the  warmth 
and  freshness  of  a  youthful  and  sympathizing  observer  of  the  great 
events  of  that  epoch. 

During  the  time  of  his  second  visit  to  Europe,  he  kept  an 
ample  journal,  which  he  carefully  revised  and  arranged  after  his 
return  home.  This  was  in  three  quarto  volumes,  but  consisted  in 
very  large  proportion,  as  was  natural,  of  medical  matter. 

From  the  time  his  revision  of  the  European  Journal  was 
completed  in  1838,  he  kept  what  he  called  a  "  Domestic  Journal," 


VI  PREFACE. 

in  which  were  briefly  noted  the  events  of  each  day.  This  record 
was  written  with  his  own  hand,  up  to  the  time  when  an  affection 
of  his  eyes,  in  July,  1844,  obliged  him  to  discontinue  it.  After  one 
year's  interval,  he  resumed  it  by  the  aid  of  an  amanuensis.  From 
this  time  he  scarcely  missed  a  day  until  within  a  week  of  his  death. 

The  printed  writings,  of  which  a  carefully  prepared  catalogue 
is  to  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  consist,  in  larger  number,  of  articles 
written  for  medical  and  scientific  journals ;  extending  from  the  year 
1802  to  that  of  his  death  in  1856.  I  have  carefully  examined  the 
whole  of  these,  and  have  endeavored  to  give  some  notice  of  each 
paper  in  the  year  when  it  was  published,  and  a  more  extended 
notice  of  his  larger  works. 

These,  then,  were  the  principal  materials  for  my  work,  —  the 
Biographical  and  Surgical  Notes,  the  Letters  from  Europe,  the  Eu 
ropean  Journal,  and  the  Domestic  Journal. 

The  simplest  and  far  the  easiest  course  would  have  been  to 
prepare,  in  the  first  place,  a  general  sketch  of  the  life  and  writings 
of  Dr.  Warren ;  and  then  to  have  given,  in  order,  his  Biographical 
and  Surgical  Notes,  his  Letters,  and  the  European  and  Domestic 
Journals.  This  plan  has  been  pursued  in  relation  to  certain  political 
characters,  —  as  in  the  Life  of  John  Adams  by  his  grandson,  — 
where  journal,  autobiography,  and  letters  are  all  valuable,  either 
as  historical  or  political  documents.  It  has  the  advantage  of  giving 
these  parts  in  an  entire  and  connected  form ;  but  it  has  the  difficulty 
of  involving  much  repetition,  and  compels  the  reader  or  student  to 
turn  from  one  part  of  the  work  to  another. 

I  made  it  my  aim,  therefore,  to  weave  together  the  different 
materials,  and  such  others  as  could  be  obtained  from  individuals, 
or  as  supplied  by  my  own  knowledge  of  facts,  into  a  connected  nar 
rative,  —  somewhat  in  the  manner  so  ably  done  by  Michelet  in  his 
Life  of  Martin  Luther,  or  in  that  adopted  in  the  Life  of  Sir  Charles 
Napier. 

But  it  seemed  best  to  give  the  Biographical  Notes  as  they  were 
written;  it  being  impossible  to  separate,  without  mangling,  the 
different  parts  of  the  same  subject,  so  as  to  bring  events  into 
the  order  of  time.  I  have,  therefore,  introduced  each  portion 
under  the  year  in  which  the  account  given  by  the  writer  com 
menced,  the  subject  being  sometimes  continued  through  life.  The 
subject  of  Religion,  for  example,  is, given  under  the  year  of  his 


PREFACE.  VU 

connection  with  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  is  carried  to  the  end 
of  his  life ;  being  completed  from  the  various  sources  above  referred 
to.  The  subject  of  Politics  commences  with  his  settlement  in 
Boston,  after  the  termination  of  his  studies  abroad ;  and  is  completed 
under  one  view. 

In  other  respects,  the  history  of  each  year  is  completed  by 
portions  of  his  journal  or  letters,  and  an  account  of  his  labors  and 
publications  for  that  year.  Many  of  his  early  letters  could  not  be 
given  without  too  much  repetition,  as  their  substance  is  given  in 
the  Biographical  Notes.  The  Domestic  Journal,  also,  like  the 
European,  is  full  of  medical  matter  unsuitable  for  the  present 
volumes. 

Since  the  printing  of  the  work  commenced,  however,  some 
portions  have  been  added  to  it,  others  withdrawn,  and  changes 
of  arrangement  made,  over  which  I  have  had  no  control. 

To  Professor  HOLMES  I  am  greatly  indebted  for  his  careful 
examination  of  the  work  in  a  crude  state,  his  valuable  advice  in 
regard  to  it,  and  for  some  concluding  pages. 

E.  W. 

OCT.  31,  1859. 


CONTENTS    OF   VOL.   I. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Page 

BIRTH  AND  EDUCATION 1 

II. 
CHANGE  OF  MANNERS.    BIOGRAPHICAL,  NOTES 11 

III. 

CHOICE  OF  PROFESSION.  DEPARTURE  FOR  EUROPE.  LETTERS  FROM 
EUROPE 20 

IV. 
EUROPE  IN  1799-1802.    BIOGRAPHICAL,  NOTES 41 

V. 
EUROPE  IN  1799-1802.    BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 53 

VI. 
POLITICS.    BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 64 

VII. 

LITERARY  AND  SCIENTIFIC  PURSUITS.  NATURAL-PHILOSOPHY  SOCIETY. 
MONTHLY  ANTHOLOGY  CLUB.  BOSTON  ATHENAEUM.  MEDICAL  SOCIETY 
FOR  MUTUAL  IMPROVEMENT.  FRIDAY-EVENING  SOCIETY 72 

VIII. 

MASSACHUSETTS  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  BOSTON  MEDICAL,  ASSOCIATION.  DIS 
EASES  OF  THE  HKART.  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES.  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  .  .  81 

b 


CONTENTS. 


IX. 

Page. 

MEDICAL  AND  CHARITABLE  INSTITUTIONS.  MASSACHUSETTS  GENERAL 
HOSPITAL.  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS.  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES.  WASH 
INGTON  BENEVOLENT  SOCIETY.  NEW-ENGLAND  MEDICAL  JOURNAL. 
LETTERS 98 


X. 

DR.  JOHN  WARREN.  MASSACHUSETTS  MEDICAL  COLLEGE.  PROFESSIONAL 
EMINENCE.  OPERATIONS.  LETTERS.  INVITATION  TO  PHILADELPHIA. 
SUMMER  EXCURSIONS.  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES  .  130 


XL 

EARLY  IMPRESSIONS.     EELIGION.     ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH.     BIOGRAPHICAL 
NOTES.     PRAYERS  .  155 


XII. 
RELIGIOUS  CORRESPONDENCE 177 

XIII. 

HOSPITAL.  MUMMY.  BUNKER-HILL  MONUMENT.  VISIT  TO  CONCORD. 
VISIT  TO  OLD  HOUSES.  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES.  PRACTICE.  LETTER 
TO  JUDGE  PARKER 206 

XIV. 
GYMNASIUM.    TEMPERANCE.    BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 223 


XV. 

MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.      DR.    GORHAM.       LABORS,    AND 
ARRANGEMENT   OF   TIME.      PHYSICAL    EDUCATION 236 


XVI. 

BOARD  OF  CONSULTING  PHYSICIANS.  CHOLERA.  CASE  OF  SUSPENDED 
ANIMATION.  DEATH  OF  HIS  MOTHER.  MEDICAL  CASES.  RECREA 
TIONS  .  253 


XVII. 

CONSULTING  PHYSICIANS.     SMALL-POX.     DR.  JACKSON.      BIOGRAPHICAL 
NOTES.     WORK  ON   TUMORS 269 

XVIII. 

EUROPE  IN  1837.      BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES.      JOURNAL  OF  A  VOYAGE  TO 
EUROPE 280 


CONTENTS.  XI 

XIX.  Page. 

EUROPE  IN  1837.     JOURNAL 293 

XX. 

EUROPE  IN  1838.     JOURNAL.     LETTERS.     BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES  ....    312 

XXI. 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  A  DOMESTIC  JOURNAL.    REVIEW  OF  JOURNAL    .    .    .    338 

XXII. 
AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY.     THE  HORSE.     BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES   ....    351 

xxm. 

JOURNAL.      LETTER  FROM  DR.   ROOTS.      OPERATIONS.      NEW   MEDICAL 
COLLEGE 362 

XXIV. 
INTRODUCTION  OF  ETHER.    CHLOROFORM.    BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES    .    .    .    381 

XXV. 

RESIGNATION   OF    PROFESSORSHIP   IN    HARVARD   COLLEGE.      LECTURES. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES 393 

/ 

XXVI. 

ANATOMICAL  DISSECTIONS.     PREPARATIONS.     BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTES  .    .    404 


JOHN    COLLINS    WARREN. 


CHAPTER   I. 

BIRTH    AND    EDUCATION. 

JOHN  COLLINS  WARREN  was  born  in  Boston, 
on  the  1st  of  August,  1778. 

At  the  time  of  his  birth,  his  father,  Dr.  JOHN 
WARREN,  lived  in  a  house  at  the  corner  of  Avon 
Place  and  Central  Court.  When  he  was  a  year  old, 
the  family  removed  to  the  corner  of  Sheafe's  Lane 
(Avery  Street)  and  Washington  Street. 

At  the  former  residence,  an  event  took  place 
which  he  often  alluded  to  in  after-life,  and  may  be 
quoted  as  showing  how  deeply  an  impression  may 
be  fixed  in  the  mind  of  an  infant. 

Major  Louis  Baury  de  Bellerive,  a  French  officer 
of  the  army  of  the  American  Revolution,  an  intimate, 
friend  of  his  father,  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  at  the 
house,  and  took  a  great  deal  of  notice  of  the  child. 
He  possessed  estates  in  St.  Domingo  ;  and,  on  one 
occasion,  he  told  him,  that,  if  he  would  come  to  his 
country,  he  would  show  him  raisins  growing  against 


EARLY    LIFE.  [^E'r.  1. 

the  walls,  outside  of  the  houses.  The  child,  though 
only  one  year  old,  probably  pondered  upon  this ;  and, 
aided  by  the  elegant  appearance  of  the  officer,  who 
possessed  great  personal  attractions,  which  were  per 
haps  heightened  by  a  handsome  uniform,  it  made  an 
indelible  impression  upon  his  mind.  It  is  very  pro 
bable  also  that  his  father  may  have  frequently,  in 
after-times,  recalled  the  matter  to  his  memory;  and 
the  explanation  which  must  have  been  given  as  soon 
as  he  could  understand  it,  that  grapes  were  called 
raisins  in  French,  must  have  given  additional  force  to 
the  remembrance.  His  father,  whether  for  the  sake 
of  experiment,  or  with  the  hope  of  strengthening  the 
memory  by  giving  it  the  earliest  fixed  date,  pursued 
this  course  with  others  of  his  children  ;  calling  their 
attention  to  the  earliest  subject  suitable  to  make  an 
impression,  and  then,  from  time  to  time  afterwards, 
bringing  back  the  scene  to  them,  and  fixing  it  in 
their  minds  by  vivid  description  and  action,  which  he 
doubtless  had  a  remarkable  power  of  doing.  Thus, 
in  the  total  eclipse  of  1806,  a  child,  not  two  years 
old,  was  taken  in  his  father's  arms  to  the  top  of  the 
house,  where  he  spread  out  his  arms,  and  uttered, 
after  his  father,  the  words  "  all  dark."  The  scene 
was  frequently  repeated  to  the  child,  and  his  action 
and  words  imitated;  and  it  was  further  fixed  in  his 
mind  by  anecdotes  of  the  dark  day  in  Boston  and  its 
neighborhood  in  1780,  when  the  cows  came  home  at 
mid-day  from  pasture,  and  the  fowls  went  to  roost. 
In  those  days,  it  is  to  be  recollected,  cows  were  sent 


1779-83.]  EARLY    LIFE.  3 

to  pasture  on  Boston  Common,  and  most  gentlemen 
had  barns  and  yards  large  enough  to  keep  poultry. 
The  scene  thus  impressed  was  never  forgotten,  and 
would  present  itself  in  after-life  in  colors  more  vivid 
than  those  of  any  recent  events. 

His  earliest  recollections  were  always  associated 
with  the  incident  above  mentioned,  and  with  the 
gentleman  with  whom  it  was  connecte/1.  At  this 
period,  and  in  this  house,  he  also  mentions  his  re 
membrance  of  rolling  marbles  on  a  painted  canvas 
carpet  with  Dr.  Eustis,  afterward  Governor  Eustis, 
who  was  then  about  twenty-five  years  of  age. 

From  Avery  Street,  Dr.  John  Warren  removed  to 
Sudbury  Street,  and  thence  to  School  Street  in  1785, 
where  he  resided  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 

When  John  was  about  five  years  of  age,  he  went  to 
Master  Vinal's  reading  and  writing  school  in  West 
Street.  After  the  family  removed  to  School  Street,  he 
was  sent  to  the  Public  Latin  School  (Master  Hunt's), 
which  he  entered  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  going  at 
mid-day  for  an  hour  to  Master  Carter  to  learn  writing 
and  arithmetic.  He  continued  to  attend  here  for 
seven  years,  during  which  time  he  states  that  he  read 
a  good  deal.  The  "  Spectator  "  he  knew  thoroughly, 
and  thinks  it  had  a  very  favorable  effect  on  his  habits 
of  thinking.  His  father  had  a  set  of  the  "  History 
of  Rome,"  in  six  folio  volumes,  translated  from  the 
French  of  Catron  and  Rouille.  It  was  full  of  plates 
of  battles  and  sieges,  and  was  always  a  source  of  in 
exhaustible  entertainment  to  the  younger  members  of 


LATIN     SCHOOL.  \_JEl.  7. 

the  family.  From  this  history  he  conceived  a  taste 
for  war,  which  continued  through  life.  Knox's 
"  Winter  Evenings  "  was  also  a  standard  work  in  his 
father's  library,  which  he  read  with  pleasure  and 
advantage.  Not  the  least  of  the  great  changes  of 
manner  between  that  day  and  this  is  that  of  reading. 
Now  we  are  inundated  with  books,  which  succeed 
each  other  with  railroad  speed,  and  which  all  who 
profess  a  taste  for  literature  are  supposed  to  read. 
Fifty  or  sixty  years  ago,  comparatively  few  books 
were  published  in  this  country.  Private  libraries 
were  supplied  with  English  editions  ;  and  standard 
works,  such  as  the  "  Spectator,"  the  "  Rambler," 
Shakspeare,  Thomson's  "  Seasons,"  Milton,  and 
Knox's  "  Winter  Evenings,"  were  read  and  re-read  as 
leisure  served.  It  was  a  great  treat  to  John,  when, 
in  his  thirteenth  year,  his  father  permitted  him  to 
go  to  a  book-auction  of  new  books,  and  make  some 
purchases.  Knox's  work,  and  probably  several  of 
the  other  books  above  mentioned,  were  among  those 
purchased. 

Soon  after  his  entrance  into  the  Latin  School,  he 
attained  the  head  of  his  class,  and  kept  it  to  the  end 
of  the  seven  years  which  he  passed  there,  except 
at  one  period,  when  a  boy  of  the  name  of  Samuel 
Howard,  from  the  North  Square,  came  to  the  school. 
With  him  he  had  a  long  contest,  each  being  alter 
nately  at  the  head  of  the  class.  Notwithstanding 
this  rivalry,  they  were  great  friends,  and  played  to 
gether.  At  length  Howard  left  school,  and  John 


1779-85.]  LATIN     SCHOOL.  O 

remained  in  undisturbed  possession  of  the  first  place ; 
and  Howard,  who  Dr.  Jenks  says  was  unqestionably 
the  best  scholar  in  the  class,  became  a  merchant  in 
Georgia,  and  died  there. 

The  time  spent  at  the  Latin  School,  except  during 
the  period  of  his  rivalry  with  Howard,  which  was  a 
continual  source  of  excitement  and  uneasiness,  he 
refers  to  as  the  most  agreeable  portion  of  his  life. 
He  had  got  settled  in  his  place :  he  says  he  studied 
tolerably,  and  rode  on  horseback  to  his  father's  farm 
at  Jamaica  Plain  two  or  three  times  a  week.  Though 
always  delicate,  he  had  no  severe  illness. 

Those  whose  recollections  go  back  to  the  time  of 
his  entrance  into  the  Latin  School  describe  him  as 
remarkable  for  his  scrupulous  neatness  of  person,  and 
for  his  love  of  order  as  shown  in  the  arrangement  of 
his  room,  his  library,  and  his  clothes.  He  was  also 
distinguished,  as  a  child,  for  a  high  tone  of  moral 
feeling ;  but  was  cold,  reserved,  and  silent,  even  at 
that  age.  Beneath  this  reserve  or  shyness,  however, 
was  concealed  a  temperament  warm  and  excitable. 
His  disposition  was  affectionate;  and  his  mother  often 
mentioned  the  devoted  and  patient  attention  which 
he  displayed  in  watching  by  her  bedside  during  an 
illness,  when  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  His  con 
stitution  was  naturally  feeble ;  and  this  probably 
rendered  him  less  inclined  than  other  boys  to  active 
pursuits. 

He  had  a  strong  natural  love  of  music,  and  could 
easily  catch  a  tune   upon  once  hearing  it.      In  his 


6  LATIN    SCHOOL.  [JEn.  14,  15. 

biographical  notes,  he  states  that  he  perfectly  retains, 
after  the  lapse  of  fifty  years,  the  air  of  a  tune  which 
he  had  learnt  in  Paris  from  one  of  Napoleon's  offi 
cers,  with  whom  he  boarded. 

At  the  first  distribution  of  the  Franklin  Medals,  in 
1792,  his  name  stood  at  the  head  of  the  list.  Upon 
leaving  school  for  Harvard  College,  in  1793,  he  de 
livered,  as  head  scholar,  a  "  Valedictory  Address " 
before  the  "  Venerable  Fathers  "  of  the  town. 

This  address,  a  copy  of  which  is  extant,  partly  in 
his  handwriting,  consists  in  a  laudation  of  public- 
school  education,  and  in  grave  advice  to  those  who 
were  to  remain  in  the  school,  to  avail  themselves  to 
the  utmost  of  the  advantage  they  enjoyed.  This 
mode  of  instruction,  he  says,  "  tends  to  an  universal 
diffusion  of  information  through  all  ranks  and  condi 
tions  of  men,  and  to  disseminate  among  the  rising 
generation  those  principles  which  must  produce  the 
most  happy  effects  upon  society  at  large.  A  mode  of 
education  which  shall  confine  the  means  of  inquiry 
to  a  few,  and  those  the  children  of  the  wealthy  only, 
will  necessarily  give  them  a  superiority  over  those 
of  the  poor.  Even  with  respect  to  bodily  strength, 
which  is  often  greater  in  children  of  the  lower  class, 
from  their  being  prepossessed  with  an  idea  of  general 
inferiority,  they  suffer  those  powers  which  nature 
gave  them  for  their  defence  to  lie  useless  and  unim 
proved.  A  mean,  cowardly  spirit  is  thus  generated 
in  childhood ;  and  those  ideas,  which,  from  early 
life,  we  have  by  association  been  used  to  entertain 


1793.]  COLLEGE-LIFE.  7 

in  connection,  it  will  be  difficult  ever  after  to 
separate." 

As  the  address  is  short,  the  whole  might  be  given ; 
but,  as  the  scholars  were  not  required  to  write  the 
addresses  they  delivered,  there  is  some  doubt  whether 
this  was  composed  by  himself  or  for  him.  The  quo 
tation  is  not,  therefore,  given  as  a  specimen  of  his 
composition,  but  as  what  he  actually  delivered.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Jenks,  his  classmate  both  at  school  and  col 
lege,  from  whom  the  manuscript,  and  the  information 
connected  with  it,  was  received,  states  that,  on  this 
same  occasion,  he  himself  pronounced  an  oration 
prepared  for  him  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Freeman,  also 
in  praise  of  public-school  education. 

In  his  fifteenth  year,  he  left  the  Latin  School  for 
Harvard  College.  He  had  a  room  on  the  lower  floor 
of  "  Massachusetts  ;  "  and,  for  chum,  J.,  —  an  ex 
cellent  person,  he  says,  but  disposed  to  amusement 
rather  than  study ;  though,  in  the  third  year,  he 
reformed,  and  became  very  steady  and  attentive.  One 
morning,  on  awaking,  John  found  the  floor  of  the 
room  covered  by  an  immense  five-bar  gate,  which 
J.  and  his  friends  had,  in  a  frolic,  brought  from  a 
gentleman's  residence.  Before  he  was  fully  aware  of 
it,  Peter,  the  kitchen-man,  entered,  and  discovered 
the  gate.  They  knew  that  he  would  give  informa 
tion  ;  and  that,  if  the  gate  was  officially  found  there, 
the  punishment  would  be  severe.  J.  was  alarmed, 
and  went  off  to  Boston.  Warren  consulted  Gorham, 
afterwards  Hon.  B.  Gorham,  who  was  then  in  the 


S  COLLEGE-LIFE.  [JEn.  15. 

junior  class.  They  agreed  to  cut  up  the  gate,  and 
carry  it  piecemeal  into  the  cellar.  Soon  after  this 
was  done,  the  tutors  came  round  to  search  ;  but,  not 
discovering  any  traces  of  the  gate  in  the  rooms,  no 
body  was  punished ;  though  they  must  have  known 
where  the  gate  had  been  deposited. 

He  received  some  prizes  in  college,  and  his  class 
gave  him  the  Latin  Valedictory.  He  found  college- 
life  very  pleasant. 

His  two  surviving  classmates  (Judge  White,  of 
Salem,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jenks)  testify  to  his  honor 
able  standing  with  his  class  at  Cambridge,  both  as  a 
scholar  and  a  gentleman.  The  latter  says,  "  Indeed, 
the  rank  obtained  in  the  community  by  his  uncle, 
and  not  only  sustained,  but  increased,  by  his  beloved 
and  lamented  father,  and  of  which  he  was  never  un 
mindful,  constantly  bore  him  up.  Of  the  Warren 
family,  I  know  we  used  to  talk  when  schoolboys." 

The  deep-seated  principles  of  religion,  and  reve 
rence  for  sacred  things,  as  well  as  firm  moral  princi 
ples,  which  were  possessed  and  inculcated  by  Dr. 
John  Warren,  were  never  more  needed  than  they 
were  at  this  time. 

An  interesting  account  of  the  state  of  college,  at 
this  period,  has  been  given  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Channing, 
who  was  in  the  class  after,  and  by  Judge  White,  who 
was  in  the  same  class  with  him.  The  doctrines  of 
the  French  Revolution  were  universally  prevailing ; 
"  spreading  its  disastrous  influence,"  says  Judge 
White,  "  throughout  the  civilized  world,  and  pouring 


1793.]  COLLEGE-LIFE.  9 

upon  our  country  a  flood  of  infidel  and  licentious 
principles.  Our  colleges  could  not  escape  the  con 
tagion  of  these  principles ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that 
to  these,  and  the  pernicious  books  embodying  them, 
much  of  the  disorderly  conduct,  and  most  of  the 
infidel  and  irreligious  spirit,  which  prevailed  at  that 
period  among  the  students  of  Cambridge,  may  justly 
be  attributed." 

Dr.  Charming  says,  "  College  was  never  in  a  worse 
state."  —  "  The  system  of  government  and  instruc 
tion  went  on  much  as  it  had  done  years  before ;  and 
the  result  was  a  state  of  great  insubordination,  and 
the  almost  total  absence  of  the  respect  due  to  indi 
viduals  of  so  much  worth"  as  the  members  of  the 
government  and  the  teachers.  "  The  state  of  morals 
among  the  students  was  any  thing  but  good."' 

Though  Warren  never  loved  study  for  itself  (for 
he  has  borne  ample  testimony  to  the  contrary),  and 
though  he  never  acquired  fixed  habits  of  application, 
he  imbibed  none  of  the  contagion  of  evil  principles 
described  above.  He  acquired,  however,  such  a 
knowledge  of  the  languages  as  was  useful  to  him  in 
after-life,  arid  devoted  much  time  to  reading. 

Mr.  Warren  graduated  in  1797.  He  did  not  im 
mediately  commence  the  study  of  a  profession.  It 
was  his  father's  wish  that  he  should  not  enter  one 
which  he  himself  had  found  so  laborious,  and  in 
many  respects  so  anxious  and  harassing,  as  his  own  ; 
but  that  he  should  engage  in  the  more  immediately 
lucrative  pursuits  of  the  merchant.  In  order,  there- 

2 


10  COLLEGE-LIFE.  (>ET.  19. 

fore,  to  prepare  himself  for  that  or  for  any  other 
occupation,  he  devoted  one  year  after  leaving  col 
lege  to  the  study  of  the  French  language  with  Mr. 
Sales,  who  was  afterwards,  for  nearly  forty  years,  the 
well-known  teacher  of  the  French  and  Spanish  lan 
guages  in  Harvard  College. 

During  this  year  and  the  next,  he  had  ample  op 
portunity  for  cultivating  social  intercourse,  and  of 
observing  the  manners  of  the  time.  It  is  to  be  recol 
lected,  that  the  large  influx  of  French  gentlemen  of 
rank  and  birth,  whom  their  king  had  permitted  to 
follow  their  generous  inclination  to  serve  in  the  cause 
of  liberty,  had  already  imparted  the  polished  man 
ners  of  that  court,  which  has  always  given  laws  in 
the  world  of  fashion.  The  severity  of  Puritan  man 
ners  had  yielded  in  some  degree  to  this  softening 
influence;  and  few  traces  of  the  stern  republican 
could  have  been  found  in  that  society  into  which 
Mr.  Warren  now  entered.  In  his  biographical  notes, 
he  has  given  us  an  account  of  the  manners  which 
prevailed  at  the  time  referred  to.  It  is  here  given 
in  his  own  words. 


1797.]  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  11 


CHAPTER  II. 


CHANGE     OF     MANNERS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

AT  the  period  when  I  left  college,  and  became  an  inhabitant 
of  Boston,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  undergo  the  opera 
tion  of  a  barber  half  an  hour  every  day.  This  was  per 
formed  in  a  barber's  shop,  where  there  were  a  number  of 
other  persons  waiting;  and,  of  course,  the  average  time 
lost  in  this  way  was  little  short  of  an  hour,  besides  the 
horrid  consequences  of  being  obliged  to  carry  on  one's  head 
a  quantity  of  curls,  flour,  pomatum,  and  a  long  cue  or  a 
heavy  club. 

This  practice  was  broken  up  by  the  French  Sans-culottes, 
who  were  the  first  to  cut  the  hair  close,  and  thus  to  get  rid 
of  these  uncomfortable  paraphernalia.  The  dress,  at  that 
time,  was  a  colored  coat ;  metal  buttons,  usually  yellow  ; 
colored  and  figured  waistcoat ;  short  breeches,  buttoning 
at  the  knees ;  long  boots,  with  white  tops ;  and,  when 
riding  on  horseback,  a  pair  of  leather  breeches,  instead  of 
pantaloons  of  drab  cloth.  These  leather  breeches  were 
daily  cleaned  with  yellow  clay,  which  required  that  the  coat 
should  never  be  brought  in  contact  with  them.  Then  a 
shirt,  ruffled  at  the  breast  and  about  the  wrists  ;  a  white 
cravat,  filled  in  with  what  was  called  a  pudding,  the  use  of 
which,  from  the  effect  of  habit,  could  not  be  dispensed  with 
for  some  years.  Cocked  hats  were  very  much  worn  at  that 


12  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  [.£T.  19-21. 

time,  but  not  by  the  young :  and  gentlemen  of  a  certain 
age  wore  wigs,  which  were  sent  to  the  barbers  once  a  week 
to  be  fresh  dressed ;  so  that,  on  Saturday  night,  we  saw 
the  barbers'  boys  carrying  home  immense  piles  of  wig-boxes, 
as  a  preparation  for  going  to  church  on  Sunday.  The 
arrangement  of  dress  for  a  party  required  a  total  change, 
—  white  small-clothes,  silk  stockings,  pumps,  and  a  colored 
or  white  waistcoat. 

Physicians  who  had  much  business,  in  those  days,  rode 
on  horseback.  Riding  in  a  chaise  was  very  rare,  and  in 
a  four-wheeled  carriage  still  more  so.  My  father  rode  on 
horseback  till  within  a  few  years  before  his  death.  He  rode 
with  great  rapidity,  and  never  stopped  for  any  thing  till  he 
reached  his  destination.  Within  a  few  years  of  his  death, 
he  used  a  chaise,  with  a  powerful  horse,  and  drove  with  the 
utmost  possible  speed,  avoiding  with  great  adroitness  all 
obstacles.  He  never  had  any  attendant  except  in  the  win 
ter,  when  he  indulged  in  a  good  booby-hut,  with  a  pair  of 
horses  driven  by  a  black  servant.  A  succession  of  these 
servants  he  obtained  from  my  grandfather's  estate  in  Rhode 
Island.  The  last  of  these,  whose  name  was  Cuff,  or  Cuff 
Collins,  died  about  the  year  1848,  in  Rhode  Island,  at  the 
place  of  his  birth,  receiving  a  pension  which  made  him 
comfortable  in  his  old  age. 

Dr.  Lloyd  generally  drove  a  very  fine  horse  ;  and  Drs. 
Jarvis  and  "Whipple  were  famoiis  for  beautiful  saddle- 
horses,  and  the  elegance  with  which  they  rode.  The  saddle- 
horses  were  tied  in  the  streets ;  but,  when  in  harness,  they 
were  accustomed  to  stand  without  being  tied.  The  streets 
in  that  day  were  very  irregular,  being  partly  paved  and 
partly  gravelled.  The  sidewalks  were  paved  with  round 
stones,  without  curb-stones ;  and  the  sideways  were  guarded 
by  rows  of  posts,  which  were  very  convenient  for  the  hitch- 


1797-99.]  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  13 

ing  of  horses.  Ladies  were  more  rarely  seen  in  the  street 
than  now,  except  in  the  evenings,  when  they  walked  to 
parties,  attended  by  their  gentleman  or  by  a  servant ;  but, 
in  great  balls  and  assemblies,  they  endeavored  to  obtain  a 
hackney-coach,  though  the  number  of  these  was  very  small. 

There  was,  at  that  time,  but  one  market-place  in  town ; 
and  my  father  was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  market,  not 
withstanding  his  great  business,  two  or  three  times  a  week. 
But  there  were  provision-carts,  which  carried  supplies  to 
every  door. 

Large  parties  opened  at  seven  or  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  and  were  much  more  formal  than  at  present.  A 
regular  introduction  to  the  master  and  mistress  of  the 
house  was  indispensable  on  the  part  of  every  guest;  and 
many  compliments  and  kind  inquiries  were  interchanged. 
Dances  were  usually,  at  the  opening  of  the  ball  or  assembly, 
one  or  two  minuets.  A  friend  of  mine  told  me,  a  short 
time  since,  that  he  saw  me  dance  a  minuet  in  1806,  or 
thereabouts  ;  and  that  this  was  the  last  time  he  had  wit 
nessed  this  dance  in  Boston.  After  the  minuets,  contra 
dances  and  cotillons  were  in  fashion.  There  were  rarely 
suppers  ;  but  refreshments  were  commonly  handed  round  : 
and,  when  suppers  were  given,  the  whole  party  sat  down, 
not  all  at  one  time,  but  usually  at  two  different  periods. 

Parties  were  very  long ;  and  much  wine  and  punch  were 
consumed  at  them  to  help  to  wear  away  the  time.  What 
was  most  striking  in  these  parties,  compared  with  those  of 
the  present  day,  was  the  great  politeness  with  which  indi 
viduals  were  accustomed  to  treat  each  other  :  so  that  it  was 
much  more  common  to  dispute  precedence  in  favor  of  their 
friends  than  of  themselves  ;  and  persons  of  a  certain  age 
were  treated  with  a  degree  of  deference  now  wholly  disused. 
In  fact,  one  of  the  great  traits  in  the  manners  of  the  pre- 


14  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  [JEn.  19-21. 

sent  day  is  the  want  of  respect  with  which  young  persons 
are  accustomed  to  treat  those  older  than  themselves.  This 
change  of  manners  is  partly,  or  principally  perhaps,  to  be 
attributed  to  the  French  Revolution  ;  which,  while  it  has 
swept  away  many  useless  and  inconvenient  ceremonies,  has, 
to  a  certain  extent,  destroyed  that  refined  delicacy  of  con 
duct  which  characterized  the  preceding  century. 

Dinner-parties  were  more  common  then,  and  especially 
lady  dinner-parties.  The  latter  were  very  agreeable.  The 
ladies  all  retired  at  a  certain  time  ;  while  the  gentlemen 
remained  in  session  long  after.  Gentlemen  dinner-parties 
began  early,  arid  ended  late.  They  were  preceded  by  a 
heavy  draught  of  punch,  and  attended  with  such  free  po 
tations  of  strong  wines  as  would  shock  the  more  delicate 
drinkers  of  the  present  day.  The  great  care  on  the  part 
of  the  host  was  to  present  to  the  guests  as  much  ordinary 
wine  as  they  could  be  made  to  drink,  and  then  to  bring 
forward,  in  succession,  a  variety  of  old  wines,  each  having 
a  character  a  little  better  than  that  which  preceded.  All 
of  these  had  some  remarkable  history  connected  with  them ; 
the  detail  and  discussion  of  which  constituted  an  important 
part  of  social  conversation. 

The  drinking  of  healths  was  carried  to  a  great  excess. 
The  master  of  the  house,  if  particularly  hospitable,  felt  him 
self  bound  to  notice  each  guest,  however  distant  he  might 
be,  and  however  numerous  the  company.  Then  there  was 
a  series  of  toasts,  beginning,  in  this  country,  with  "  The 
President  of  the  United  States,"  followed  by  "  The  Ladies  ;  " 
while,  in  England,  "  The  King  "  was  followed  by  "  The 
Church,"  then  members  of  the  royal  family,  then  favorite 
lords  and  ladies :  and  these  proceedings  were  occasionally 
varied  with  a  song.  The  want  of  voice  was  no  apology ; 
and  I  judged,  from  the  manner  in  which  these  songs  were 


1797-99.]  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  15 

executed,  that  a  sort  of  education  had  been  undergone  for 
this  purpose.  Sometimes,  though  rarely,  an  absolute  re 
fusal  was  given  ;  and,  in  this  case,  the  individual  might 
redeem  his  character  by  telling  a  story.  If  he  could  not 
do  this,  he  was  compelled  to  extra  potations.  On  the  whole, 
the  dinner-parties  of  those  times  must  be  looked  on  with 
disgust :  for  not  only  was  the  quantity  of  wine  sufficient  to 
make  irreparable  inroads  on  the  physical  organization,  but 
these  potations  led  to  the  greatest  extravagance  of  language 
and  thought ;  and  the  conversation  at  a  dinner-party,  if 
taken  down  by  a  stenographer,  and  presented  to  the  party 
on  the  morning  following,  would  have  filled  them  with 
shame  and  regret.  Happily,  the  times  have  changed  ;  and 
the  Temperance  revolution,  if  it  has  not  carried  purity  and 
health  into  the  social  dinner-party,  has,  to  a  certain  extent, 
abated  the  intolerable  nuisance  inflicted  on  our  forefathers. 

Custom  has  also  abolished  the  general  and  pernicious 
habit  of  a  morning  draught  of  flip  or  other  stimulant ;  for  I 
remember  well  the  time,  when  grave  gentlemen,  and  even 
clergymen,  made  a  diurnal  visit  to  particular  friends  or 
particular  taverns,  where  hot  punch,  porter,  brandy  and 
water,  bread  and  cheese,  were  employed  to  help  consultation 
on  the  topics  of  the  day.  It  may  readily  be  imagined,  that 
a  conversation  under  such  circumstances  was  not  likely  to 
be  brief,  and  that  no  small  part  of  the  morning  was  wasted 
in  this  relaxation. 

Time  was,  in  fact,  not  very  important  to  most  men  at 
that  period.  From  the  peace  of  '83  until  near  the  begin 
ning  of  the  present  century,  very  little  business  was  done 
in  Boston.  About  half  a  dozen  merchants  were  sufficient  to 
carry  on  the  greater  part  of  the  foreign  trade  ;  and  the  rest 
were  condemned  to  a  small  business,  which  did  not  fill  up 
their  vacant  hours.  Of  course,  there  was  much  time  to  be 


16  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  [JEn.  19-21. 

occupied  in  eating,  drinking,  and  card-playing.  The  pur 
suit  of  science,  and  scientific  reading,  were  little  thought  of 
till  about  the  year  1800.  Although  there  were,  in  fact, 
some  societies  formed  with  very  good  objects,  they  were  not 
followed  up  with  any  degree  of  activity. 

About  that  time,  various  new  associations  began  to  be 
formed  :  and  I  was  particularly  engaged  in  a  Society  for  the 
Study  of  Natural  Philosophy,  in  1802  ;  another,  of  a  some 
what  social  character,  in  1804  ;  the  Anthology  Club,  in  1804  ; 
and  others  of  greater  or  less  importance.  When  business  in 
creased,  and  science  began  to  flourish,  the  attention  of  our 
educated  people  was  directed  to  new  objects,  and  time  began 
to  be  considered  important.  Physicians  set  the  example  in 
this  way.  They  demanded  of  each  other,  that  no  one  should 
encroach  on  the  time  of  his  professional  brother  by  a  want 
of  punctuality.  Five  minutes  was  allowed  for  inevitable 
impediments  ;  and,  beyond  that  time,  no  one  considered 
himself  bound  to  waste  his  time  in  awaiting  his  dilatory 
colleague.  They  thus  falsified  the  opinion  once  very  strongly 
expressed  to  me  by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Lettsom,  of  London, 
that  he  never  knew  an  American  who  understood  the  value 
of  five  minutes.  The  times  have  altered,  however,  since 
Dr.  Lettsom  lived  ;  and  now,  perhaps,  there  are,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  industrious  occupation  of  most  individuals, 
few  people  more  exact  in  their  engagements  than  our  coun 
trymen.  The  great  head  of  our  republic  set  them  an  exam 
ple  on  this  point  of  morality.  I  remember  (and,  I  dare  say, 
other  persons  living  also  remember),  that  when  he  was  in 
Boston,  in  the  year  1789,  he  appointed  Colonel  Hitchborne 
to  rendezvous  at  his  residence,  corner  of  Court  and  Tremont 
Street,  witli  his  troop  of  dragoons,  at  eight,  A.M.  Precisely 
at  eight,  General  Washington  was  seen  issuing  from  the 
street-door  ;  and,  although  the  troop  of  horse  had  appeared, 


1797-99.]  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  17 

he,  with  his  aids,  mounted  in  a  moment,  and  set  off  on  their 
route  at  a  brisk  trot.  Colonel  H.,  arriving  at  the  house  after 
wards,  found  that  President  Washington  had  left  Boston 
without  an  escort ;  and  he  was  obliged  to  pursue  for  some 
time  at  a  gallop,  before  he  succeeded  in  overtaking  him. 

My  father  was  so  very  much  occupied  in  professional  busi 
ness,  giving  lectures,  attending  societies,  &c.,  that  punctuality 
and  method  were  indispensable  to  the  accomplishment  of 
these  numerous  objects.  I  therefore  learned  very  early  to 
apportion  out  my  time  for  definite  objects  ;  and  pursuing  the 
plan  thus  laid  out,  in  a  faithful  and  exact  manner,  formed  a 
habit  of  occupation  which  enabled  me  to  accomplish  with 
ease  what  without  it  would  have  been  burdensome,  and 
compelled  me  to  fly  from  indolence  and  repose  by  something 
like  an  instinctive  movement.  For  the  same  reason,  I  have 
been  led  to  avoid  all  those  amusements  which  are  resorted 
to  merely  to  pass  away  time,  without  contributing  any  thing 
to  the  stock  of  intellectual,  moral,  or  physical  improvement. 

While  I  thus  seem  to  be  extolling  myself  for  these  import 
ant  advantages,  I  mean,  in  fact,  to  express  my  thankfulness 
to  Providence  for  their  enjoyment ;  and,  under  Providence, 
to  my  father  and  mother  for  training  me  in  these  habits. 
But  I  know  individuals  living  at  this  time,  who  have  been 
more  industrious,  more  punctual,  and  more  efficient,  than  I 
have :  and  I  may  venture  to  notice  here  the  names  of  two 
such  persons ;  namely,  Dr.  James  Jackson  and  President 
Everett.  I  never  knew  either  of  these  gentlemen  fail  to 
fulfil  an  appointment  with  exactness ;  and  I  do  know  that 
they  occupy,  and  have  through  life  occupied,  the  whole  of 
their  time  in  such  a  way  as  to  accomplish  the  great  objects 
of  life  in  the  most  perfect  manner. 

The  relations  between  professional  (that  is,  medical)  men 
in  this  place,  both  in  former  and  present  times,  have  been 

3 


18  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  [JET.  19-21. 

with  some  exceptions,  highly  commendable.  Their  inter 
course  with  each  other,  between  young  and  old,  between 
learned  and  unlearned,  is  generally  characterized  by  polite 
ness,  great  care  in  avoiding  every  thing  which  might  lead  to 
an  unfavorable  opinion  of  the  practice  of  another,  and  an 
equal  caution  not  to  attempt  to  divert  the  confidence  of  the 
patient  from  another  to  himself.  The  physicians  of  Boston, 
in  the  year  1806,  at  the  instance  of  Dr.  Jackson  and  myself, 
adopted  a  code  of  medical  ethics  which  has  since  governed, 
or  at  least  influenced,  their  conduct  towards  each  other  in 
the  happiest  manner ;  and  though  the  profession  here,  as 
everywhere  else,  has  not  been  wholly  free  from  heart-burn 
ings,  jealousies,  and  a  certain  kind  of  intrigues,  there  is, 
perhaps,  nowhere  a  higher  degree  of  professional  honor  and 
mutual  respect. 

The  physicians  of  the  old  time  had  the  reputation  of  being 
sceptical,  both  in  this  country  and  in  Europe.  They  rarely 
went  to  church ;  though  that  was  not  the  fact  in  regard  to 
those  with  whom  I  was  best  acquainted.  Of  late  years,  there 
has  been  a  favorable  change  ;  and  many  physicians,  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  have  distinguished  themselves  by  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  subject  of  religion,  and  by  the 
publication  of  powerful  arguments  in  favor  of  a  religious 
faith.  The  general  attendance  on  churches  was,  however, 
more  exact  than  it  is  now  ;  for  it  was  rare  for  any  respecta 
ble  family  to  be  absent  from  church  the  whole  Sunday.  The 
Sundays  were  much  better  observed  than  they  are  now ; 
the  town  was  more  tranquil ;  there  was  less  driving,  talking, 
smoking,  in  the  streets,  until  about  fifteen  years  ago  ;  when 
a  certain  individual,  whose  name  would  disgrace  the  page  on 
which  it  was  written,  called  together  young,  thoughtless 
people,  on  Sundays ;  set  them  to  dancing,  singing,  and  com 
mitting  all  such  practices  as  he  thought  best  calculated  to 


1797-99.]  CHANGE    OF    MANNERS.  19 

desecrate  the  day.  Since  that  time,  there  has  been  a  decided 
alteration  in  the  aspect  of  the  Boston  streets  on  Sunday. 
While,  however,  these  facts  are  undoubted,  religion  was  less 
attended  to  than  it  is  now  ;  that  is,  there  was  less  study  of  it 
by  a  certain  part  of  the  population.  There  was  a  total  want 
of  Sunday  schools,  and  of  religious  meetings  on  any  days 
but  Sundays.  A  Bible  was  rarely  seen  in  a  fashionable 
house ;  and,  I  recollect  very  distinctly,  the  first  exception 
which  I  witnessed  occurred  in  the  family  of  a  very  beautiful 
and  accomplished  lady.  Some  years  after,  this  lady  was 
taken  ill  of  a  fatal  sickness  ;  and  when,  in  conversing  with 
her  on  religious  subjects,  I  mentioned  this  fact,  she  seemed 
much  gratified,  and  said  that  it  had  been  the  practice  of  her 
youth  to  prepare  her  mind  for  a  change  from  this  world  to 
another,  under  the  conviction  that  she  could  never  do  it 
properly  while  in  a  sick-chamber. 

As  there  were  comparatively  few  poor,  there  were  few  of 
those  institutions  which  draw  forth  the  best  feelings  of  man 
kind  ;  and  that  wonderful  liberality  and  benevolence,  which 
has  of  late  years  characterized  the  city  of  Boston,  was  un 
known. 

On  looking  back,  therefore,  we  find  great  reason  to  be  sa 
tisfied  with  the  condition  of  society  in  which  we  live.  There 
are,  indeed,  many  more  poor,  and  there  is  more  vice  :  but, 
on  the  other  side,  we  see  a  wonderful  growth  and  expansion 
of  all  the  high  qualities  which  lead  man  to  relieve  his  fellow- 
beings  ;  to  cultivate  the  useful  arts  and  sciences  ;  and,  with 
unceasing  activity,  to  promote  that  state  of  character  which 
leads  him  to  seek  and  look  forward  to  a  better  existence. 


20  CHOOSING    A    PROFESSION.  [^T.  21. 


CHAPTER    III. 

CHOICE  OF  THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  — DEPARTURE 
FOR  EUROPE. 

THE  troubled  state  of  Europe  at  this  time,  when  Eng 
land  and  France  were  in  fierce  contest  (the  English 
fleets  sweeping  the  seas ;  and  the  French  armies, 
headed  by  Citizen  Bonaparte,  carrying  all  before  them 
by  land),  had  nearly  annihilated  commerce.  Dr.  John 
Warren  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  such  a  situation 
in  a  counting-room  as  he  thought  entirely  suitable  for 
his  son ;  and  John  was,  therefore,  left  to  pursue  the 
preference  which  he  felt  for  a  profession.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  after  he  left  college,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father ;  choosing  this 
profession,  after  mature  deliberation,  because  he  con 
sidered  it  the  most  useful. 

He  does  not  appear  to  have  had  much  bias  to  me 
dical  pursuits ;  and  his  introduction  to  the  study  was 
not,  perhaps,  the  most  agreeable.  There  was  no  hos 
pital  in  Boston  at  this  time ;  nor,  strictly  speaking, 
any  medical  school.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  time 
for  physicians  to  dispense  their  own  prescriptions, 
which  were  prepared  by  the  pupils  at  the  physician's 
house.  The  pupil,  though  not  precisely  an  apprentice, 
was  required  to  perform  all  the  duty  of  one. 


1799.]  VOYAGE    TO    EUROPE.  21 

Some  disgust  at  this  sort  of  life,  together  with  other 
causes,  may  have  stimulated  the  strong  desire  which 
Mr.  Warren  felt  to  visit  Europe,  and  avail  himself  of 
the  advantages  afforded  by  foreign  medical  schools 
and  hospitals.  After  one  year  spent  in  the  study  of 
medicine  at  home,  he  embarked  for  London,  June, 
1799,  and  arrived  there  in  twenty-four  days. 

It  was  an  interesting  period  in  the  history  of  the 
world.     The  American  Revolution  had  been  accom 
plished.     The  King  and  Queen  of  France,  who  hja^IT^ 
yielded  to  the  course  of  freedom  so  far  as  to  permit;' . 
their  subjects  to  aid  in  the  war  of  revolution,  had  feeif  ~*  /  \$ 
dethroned  and  beheaded.     The  French  Directory  ^r|(r^ 
in  power;  and,  elated  by  the  brilliant  success^  Wr^ 
their  army  and  their  general,  were  insolent  and  over 
bearing  to  the  country  they  had  assisted.     England 
still    claimed   her   right   as    sovereign   of    the    seas, 
and   prosecuted   her  claim   of  search   in  regard   to 
neutrals ;    a  claim  which,  of  course,  was  exercised 
civilly  or  tyrannically,  according  to  the  disposition  of 
the  captain  of  the  ship.     The  French  republic  had 
no  disposition  to  be  behind ;  and,  probably  presuming 
upon  past  services,  treated  her  sister  republic  with 
insolence.     Upon  remonstrance  being  made,  she  re 
quired  from  America  a  sum  of  money  to  assist  her 
in  the  war  with  England,  as  compensation  for  her  re 
dress  of  injuries  or  future  forbearance.     A  war  ensued, 
which,  by  the  testimony  even  of  Las  Casas  (or  La- 
voisne),  was  brought  on  by  the  vexatious  and  insolent 
conduct  of  the  French.     Its  duration  was  so  short. 


22  VOYAGE    TO    EUROPE.  [JET.  21. 

that  it  seems  almost  to  have  been  forgotten  in  history 
amid  the  greater  events  which  were  daily  passing. 

It  was  during  this  war  that  Mr.  Warren  sailed  for 
Europe.  His  passage,  though  of  longer  duration 
than  in  these  days,  had  more  objects  of  interest.  It 
could  not  have  been  possible,  at  that  exciting  period, 
for  the  nephew  of  General  Warren,  and  the  son  of  one 
of  the  most  ardent  and  disinterested  patriots  who  ever 
lived,  to  behold  public  events  with  indifference.  He 
had  previously  evinced  a  deep  interest  in  politics  ; 
and,  on  the  breaking-out  of  the  French  war,  took  an 
active  part  in  military  affairs,  and  in  the  organization 
of  companies.  On  board  ship,  his  warlike  inclinations 
found  full  scope,  and  must  have  agreeably  interrupted 
the  dulness  incident  to  a  sea-voyage  in  more  quiet 
times.  As  his  letters  to  his  father  and  family  de 
scribe  his  voyage  and  subsequent  progress  with  so 
much  more  freshness  than  any  subsequent  relation 
could  do,  it  seems  proper  to  introduce  some  of  them 
here,  even  at  the  risk  of  repetition.  The  acute  reader 
will  find  in  them  a  truer  picture  of  his  views,  feelings, 
and  character,  at  that  time,  than  could  be  displayed 
elsewhere. 

His  first  letters  express  much  anxiety  in  regard  to 
the  yellow  fever,  which  had  prevailed  in  Boston  the 
previous  year ;  sweeping  off,  as  he  says,  friends,  neigh 
bors,  and  classmates. 

These  first  letters  show  that  the  opinion  held  at  that 
time,  in  Boston,  of  England,  was  very  much  such  as 
travellers,  in  after-times,  give  of  Italy ;  and  that  he 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  23 

had  been  warned,  much  in  the  same  manner  as  Ameri 
cans  now  are  in  regard  to  the  latter  country,  against 
imposition,  knavery,  robbery,  and  murder.  He  wisely 
determined  it  was  best  to  make  himself  easy  upon  that 
head ;  and  he  states  that  he  has  not  found  such  a  state 
of  things  as  he  had  been  warned  against.  The  Eng 
lish,  on  the  other  hand,  believed  that  Americans  were 
devoted,  soul  and  body,  to  trade  and  profit ;  and  that 
they  were  willing  to  submit  to  any  insult,  rather  than 
suffer  interruption  in  these  matters. 

It  may  almost  be  said  of  England  at  that  time,  and 
probably  for  ages  before,  if  not  from  the  time  of  her 
very  birth  as  a  nation,  that  her  normal  state  was  a 
state  of  war.  War,  with  all  its  evils,  calls  forth  noble 
sentiments  of  patriotism,  unselfishness,  and  disregard 
to  gain.  There  can  be  little  doubt,  that,  at  that  period, 
England,  plunged  in  wars  from  which  she  derived  no 
profit,  but  incurred  vast  pecuniary  loss,  might  make 
the  reproach  without  fear  of  retort.  A  long  peace 
has  now  produced  a  different  state  of  things ;  and  that 
nation  is  now  as  thrifty,  and  devoted  to  gain,  as  are 
her  brethren  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

LONDON,  27th  July,  1799. 

DEAR  FATHER,  —  Although  in  a  few  days  I  shall  have  a 
much  better  opportunity  of  writing  to  you,  yet  I  cannot 
omit  sending  a  few  lines  by  the  first  ship  to  inform  you  of 
our  safe  arrival.  Our  passage  was  short  and  pleasant,  with 
out  any  thing  more  than  the  common  occurrences  of  a  sea- 
voyage,  except  frequent  alarms  from  the  appearances  of 
ships  which  we  met.  The  few  things  worth  noticing,  I  have 


24  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [^Sx.  21. 

minuted ;  and,  though  they  are  of  very  little  consequence, 
will  send  them  with  my  next  letters.  On  the  twenty-second 
day  we  landed  at  Deal,  and,  after  a  pleasant  journey  of  two 
days,  entered  London.  The  smoke,  crowds,  noise,  and  bustle 
of  this  immense  town  prevented  my  thoughts  from  flowing  in 
any  sort  of  regularity  for  some  days.  As  soon  as  I  could  see 
around  me,  I  sought  lodgings ;  which  I  succeeded  in  get 
ting  in  a  pleasant  part  of  the  town,  where  a  number  of 
Americans  lodge.  Perhaps  you  knew  Mr.  Harrison  Gray, 
formerly  of  Boston.  The  house  is  kept  by  his  brother.  I 
shall  not  be  able,  however,  to  remain  long  here,  as  it  is  not 
a  place  very  convenient  for  attending  the  hospitals  ;  and  the 
price  of  two  guineas  a  week  for  boarding  and  lodging, 
although  I  am  told  it  is  low  here,  and  believe  not  more 
than  is  given  at  Boston,  yet  is  higher  than  I  can  well  afford. 
I  have  now  been  ten  days  in  London,  and  have  become 
very  much  familiarized  to  it.  I  have  found  that  there 
is  no  necessity  for  acting  as  if  the  people  were  all  cheats 
and  thieves.  I  have  passed  the  streets,  by  day  and  by 
night,  without  being  robbed,  murdered,  insulted,  or  injured 
in  any  way.  It  is  true  that  a  great  degree  of  circum 
spection  is  absolutely  necessary,  particularly  in  money 
matters.  A  man  must  be  very  prudent,  or  money  will 
glide  from  him  in  a  most  astonishing  and  unaccountable 
manner.  There  are,  in  truth,  many  temptations,  which  it 
requires  a  high  degree  of  caution  to  avoid.  But  it  is  like 
wise  certain,  that  travellers  have  told  us  amusing  stories, 
which  are  barely  founded  on  fact.  I  have  received  many 
attentions  here,  particularly  from  Mr.  Cabot  and  Mr.  Gore  ; 
and  I  have  become  very  much  acquainted  with  the  latter. 
As  to  my  medical  arrangements,  I  have  done  almost  nothing 
yet ;  for  you  will  easily  perceive  that  it  must  require  a  little 
time  to  become  easy  and  at  home  in  London.  I  have  been 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  25 

advised,  for  the  most  part,  not  to  go  to  Edinburgh.  Respect 
ing  that,  I  shall  not  determine  at  present,  but  shall  pass  the 
ensuing  winter  in  attending  the  hospitals  and  lectures.  I 
shall  probably  be  able  to  write  much  more  fully  on  that  and 
some  other  subjects  in  a  short  time.  Your  letter  reached 
me  iii  five  days  after  I  came  here ;  and  nothing  could  have 
made  me  happier,  had  not  my  satisfaction  been  damped  by 
the  contents.  I  hope,  however,  nothing  serious  will  happen 
from  Harriet's  accident.  I  hope  you  will  write  to  me  by 
every  opportunity ;  as,  among  strangers,  every  thing  from 
home  is  particularly  dear  to  me.  Please  to  give  my  love  to 
my  mother,  to  my  brothers  and  sisters,  and  to  any  friends 
who  may  inquire  for  me. 

Your  affectionate  son, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 

LONDON,  Aug.  19,  1799. 

DEAR  FATHER,  —  Three  weeks  since,  I  wrote  to  you  by  the 
"  Merchant ;  "  but,  on  account  of  the  embargo  laid  the  day 
after  my  writing,  that  ship  has  not  yet  sailed.  You  will, 
therefore,  probably  receive  the  former  letter  and  this  at  the 
same  time.  I  then  mentioned  that  our  voyage  was  pleasant, 
but  uninteresting.  Our  employments  on  board  ship  were 
principally  of  a  warlike  nature  ;  and  we  became  so  expert  in 
the  exercise  of  the  great  guns,  that  the  oldest  seaman  in  the 
ship  could  not  outdo  us.  One  night,  the  captain,  determined 
to  try  our  alacrity,  and  presence  of  mind,  ordered  the  mate 
and  boatswain  to  call  all  hands  to  quarters  at  midnight, 
when  we  were  buried  in  profound  sleep.  In  five  minutes 
we  were  all  at  our  stations,  and  had  every  gun  prepared  for 
action.  We  cried  to  the  captain  to  point  out  the  enemy, 
that  we  might  fire ;  and  were  not  unpleasantly  disappointed 
at  hearing  it  was  merely  an  experiment.  So,  after  all  hands 

4 


26  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [JEx.  21. 

had  a  drink  of  grog,  we  retired  quietly  to  our  berths.  In 
the  British  Channel  we  were  often  alarmed,  and  were  obliged 
every  night  to  sleep  in  our  clothes.  A  terrible  fog  caused 
us  to  run  close  upon  the  French  coast ;  for  nothing  could  be 
seen  till  within  pistol-shot.  After  chasing  a  privateer,  quar 
relling  furiously  with  one  British  cruiser,  and  receiving 
polite  treatment  from  some  others,  we  landed  at  Deal  on 
10th  July.  I  was  impressed  with  a  kind  of  pleasing  solem 
nity,  when  I  touched  the  land  of  our  forefathers,  while  I 
recollected  how  many  important  events  had  been  transacted 
there  ;  how  many  heroes,  statesmen,  and  philosophers  had 
there  displayed  their  greatness ;  and  how  important  a  part 
in  the  theatre  of  the  world  was  at  that  moment  filled  by  this 
little  island.  The  town  of  Deal  is  a  small,  ill-built  place, 
with  nothing  remarkable  but  three  strong  castles  for  the 
defence  of  the  seacoast.  The  people  are,  in  every  respect, 
extremely  civil  to  strangers.  On  the  day  following  our 
arrival,  there  was  to  be  a  review  of  a  beautiful  regiment  by 
Prince  William  of  Gloucester.  While  we  were  deliberating 
in  what  manner  we  could  see  it,  an  officer  entered,  and 
requested  our  company  at  his  chamber,  where  we  might  have 
a  full  view  of  the  troops.  We  accepted  the  invitation  ;  and 
after  being  highly  delighted  with  the  appearance  of  the 
troops,  and  receiving  the  greatest  attention,  as  we  were 
departing,  the  lady  of  the  commander  of  one  of  the  castles 
asked  us  to  call  on  her  the  next  day,  and  view  the  inside  of 
the  castle.  Here,  too,  we  were  highly  gratified  by  the  no 
velty  of  the  thing,  and  the  urbanity  of  the  people  to  strangers 
whom  they  never  before  saw,  and  from  whom  they  could 
expect  no  return  for  their  politeness.  Dover  Castle  being  an 
object  of  curiosity  to  strangers,  we,  on  the  next  day,  rode  to 
that  place.  Shakspeare  alone  can  describe  the  stupendous 
cliffs  _of  Dover.  My  brain  turns  at  the  very  idea.  The 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  27 

prospect  from  the  top  of  the  cliffs  is  grand.  On  one  side, 
the  ocean,  unbounded,  and  covered  with  a  vast  variety  of 
vessels  passing  to  all  parts  of  the  world ;  on  the  other,  a 
most  delightful  country,  diversified  by  gentle  risings  and 
depressions,  enriched  with  the  most  luxuriant  verdure  ;  at 
our  feet,  the  town  of  Dover ;  and,  towering  over  our  heads, 
the  celebrated  Castle.  We  saw  the  beach  where  Caesar 
landed,  and  that  where  Charles  II.  was  received  at  the 
restoration.  Calais  is  so  plainly  discoverable,  that  many 
houses  upon  the  coast  may  be  distinguished.  Our  journey 
to  London  through  this  charming  country  was  highly  plea 
sant.  Something  interesting  was  constantly  presented,  —  a 
Gothic  church  or  monument  of  Saxon  antiquity.  At  Can 
terbury  is  standing  a  tower  of  Ethelred ;  the  remains  of  a 
monastery  founded  by  St.  Augustine ;  but,  above  all,  its 
famous  Cathedral,  built  about  a  thousand  years  ago.  On 
entering,  one  is  struck  with  awe.  The  long  Gothic  aisles 
and  high  arches,  the  windows  painted  in  the  ancient  man 
ner,  with  the  sufferings  of  saints,  conspired,  with  the  coldness 
of  the  place,  to  chill  us  with  solemnity.  Here  are  monu 
ments  of  some  of  the  English  kings  ;  particularly  a  fine  one, 
in  brass,  of  the  Black  Prince.  The  armor  in  which  he 
gained  the  battle  of  Poictiers,  though  crumbling  to  pieces, 
is  still  to  be  seen.  The  silver  shrine  of  Thomas  a  Becket 
stood  in  this  church  till  the  time  of  Henry  VIII. ;  and  the 
pavement  around  is  actually  worn  away  by  the  knees  of  pil 
grims.  About  the  middle  of  July,  we  entered  London  ;  and, 
in  a  place  where  people  from  all  parts  of  the  world  reside, 
one  soon  becomes  familiarized.  The  English  manners, 
though  much  like  ours  in  many  respects,  are  still  more 
different  than  I  expected  to  find  them.  I  can,  however, 
accommodate  myself  much  more  easily  to  their  manners 
than  to  their  climate.  The  sun  seldom  deigns  to  show 


28  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [IE?.  21. 

himself  for  more  than  two  hours  at  a  time  ;  and,  in  the  first 
three  weeks  after  our  arrival,  but  one  day  passed  without 
rain.  August  has  been  as  cold  as,  and  I  think  very  like, 
our  April.  I  can  now  with  perfect  ease  account  for  the  pre 
valence  of  suicide  in  England.  I  have  passed  this  month  in 
seeing  the  wonders  which  it  is  necessary  to  know  something 
of,  in  delivering  my  letters  and  receiving  the  consequences, 
and  in  gaining  the  information  requisite  for  the  arrangement 
of  my  plans.  I  have  been  universally  advised  to  attend  the 
hospitals,  in  the  first  place,  whether  I  go  to  Edinburgh  or  not ; 
and  have  determined  to  do  that  next  week.  There  are  two 
kinds  of  students  in  the  hospitals ;  the  one  called  "dressers," 
and  the  other  "  walkers."  The  first  have  the  advantage  of 
practising  on  all  the  simple  surgical  cases,  and  dressing  all 
wounds  themselves :  the  others  merely  see  what  is  done.  Of 
course,  the  former  have  vastly  the  greatest  opportunities :  but 
the  expense  is  likewise  double ;  as  the  walker  pays  £25,  the 
dresser  <£50.  Though  I  do  not  like  to  pay  so  much  money 
for  one  object,  I  believe  I  shall  enter  as  dresser ;  for,  as  I 
intend  to  become  a  surgeon,  I  think  the  acquiring  a  facility 
and  steadiness  in  manual  operation  of  the  utmost  importance. 
There  are  good  lectures  on  almost  all  branches  distinct  from 
the  hospitals.  Every  moment  of  time  which  can  be  spared 
from  surgery  and  dissections,  I  shall  devote  to  them ;  and,  if 
I  can  acquire  a  satisfactory  degree  of  medical  knowledge 
from  them,  I  shall  not  choose  to  incur  the  expense  of  going 
to  Edinburgh  :  if  not,  a  question  will  arise  which  is  to  be 
decided  in  future.  It  will  be  necessary,  when  I  have  entered 
the  hospitals,  to  give  up  every  idea  of  amusement  and  com 
pany  ;  for  a  student  who  is  tolerably  disposed  to  be  indus 
trious  will  find  every  moment  of  his  time  fully  occupied.  I 
could  give  you  a  sketch  of  affairs  in  Europe ;  but  you  will 
be  probably  quite  as  soon,  and  much  more  fully,  informed  by 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  29 

the  gazettes.  Suwarrow,  after  taking  Mantua,  is  marching 
to  Genoa.  Massena  is  to  be  succeeded  by  Moreau,  in  the 
command  of  the  army  opposed  to  the  Archduke.  This  army 
is  now  at  Zurich  ;  and  accounts  of  a  battle  are  every  moment 
expected.  France  does  not  now,  as  formerly,  vomit  flames 
upon  all  her  neighbors:  but  she  is  dreadfully  convulsed 
within  ;  and  whether  she  will  be  strong  enough  to  withstand 
the  shocks  by  which  she  is  shaken,  must  be  very  shortly 
determined.  Insurrection  is  the  order  of  the  day.  Small 
parties  of  troops,  which  some  call  Royalists,  and  others 
Jacobins,  appear  all  over  the  nation.  One  party  cries, 
u  Down  with  the  Royalists  !  "  another,  "  Down  with  the  Jaco 
bins  ! "  The  new  Directory  has  just  gained  an  important 
victory  in  shutting  up  the  Jacobin  Club.  How  long  they 
will  be  able  to  prevent  its  meetings  is  very  uncertain. 
France  and  England  are  using  every  effort  to  engage  the 
King  of  Prussia.  A  misunderstanding  between  the  Danish 
and  the  Russians  is  increasing.  The  King  of  Denmark 
seems  disposed  to  quarrel,  and  is  probably  backed  in  secret 
by  the  Prussians.  The  English  have  formed  great  hopes  of 
their  expedition  to  liberate  Holland  :  that  is,  to  re-instate  the 
stadtholder.  I  doubt  whether  the  Dutchmen  will  receive 
them  with  the  cordiality  they  expect.  The  lower-class 
Dutch  are  still  fond  of  the  Sans-culottes,  who  have  been 
squeezing  them  so  affectionately.  But  the  richer  people 
will  never  allow  their  patriotism  to  expose  their  property. 
The  combined  fleets  are  at  Brest,  and  will  probably  very 
soon  attempt  the  liberation  of  the  Dutch  from  the  Texel. 
The  effects  of  their  success  cannot  be  calculated.  Bonaparte, 
having  been  sufficiently  amused  with  his  trip  to  Egypt,  is 
now  attempting  a  return  to  France.  The  Turks,  however, 
have  so  exceedingly  strong  a  desire  to  see  the  terrific  hero 
who  made  Europe  tremble  under  his  sword,  that  he  will 


30  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [JE.T.  21. 

most  probably  see  Constantinople,  before  Paris.  Europe  is 
drenched  in  blood.  Even  in  this  country,  the  painful  effects 
of  war  are  everywhere  seen . 

LONDON,  Dec.  8,  1799. 

MY  DEAR  FATHER,  —  In  a  letter  (No.  7)  by  the  way  of 
Liverpool,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  your  last  (No.  4)  by  the  "  Thomas  Russell ;  "  since  which, 
I  have  not  received  any  thing.  I  could  but  little  express 
the  pleasure  I  felt  at  once  more  hearing  from  my  family ;  at 
again  conversing  with  my  father;  and  I  should  do  myself 
very  small  justice  by  attempting  it  now.  No  one,  living  in 
the  midst  of  friends,  surrounded  by  those  who  are  attached 
to  him,  is  a  judge  of  the  value  of  that  attachment :  'tis  for 
him  only,  who  is  far  removed  from  any  who  love  him,  to 
estimate  the  worth  of  a  family,  and  to  know  his  affection  for 
them.  I  am  that  one.  In  that  letter,  I  gave  you  a  summary 
of  the  reasons  that  determined  me  to  remain  here.  I  men 
tioned  my  ideas  of  the  value  of  anatomical  and  surgical 
knowledge,  and  the  incomparable  advantages  in  this  place 
for  the  study  arid  practice  of  those  arts,  and  of  midwifery 
and  physiology ;  such  as,  taken  together,  are  not  to  be  found 
elsewhere.  I  mentioned  that  Edinburgh  was  to  be  preferred 
in  what  respected  medicine,  but  that  advantages  of  that 
nature  were  secondary,  because  they  may  be  had  at  home, 
while  the  first  cannot ;  that  I  did  not  consider  chemistry 
of  comparative  importance.  To  speak  truth,  this  has  been 
played  the  fool  with  in  a  wonderful  manner.  At  one  time, 
we  were  explaining  every  thing  on  chemical  principles : 
hydrogen  and  oxygen,  azote  and  carbon,  were  stuck  to 
every  thing.  Every  stripling  in  medicine  could  learn  the  no 
menclature  ;  and  then,  blazing  forth  these  new  arid  unusual 
terms,  astonished  the  ignorant  and  confused  the  learned. 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  31 

This  did  well  for  a  time.  But  at  length  these  men  were  ques 
tioned.  They  could  not  sustain  their  principles  throughout ; 
and  it  was  discovered  that  names  alone  had  deceived: 
Nomina,  et  prceterea  nihil.  Chemistry  now  sunk  to  its 
place.  In  America,  it  still  occupies  too  high  a  rank  ;  but  this 
will  not  exist  long.  I  do  not  mean  to  cast  the  slightest 
reflection  on  the  new  nomenclature,  nor  on  chemistry  itself: 
I  hope  to  be  well  versed  in  them  both,  and  to  know  how  to 
apply  them  properly.  Once,  I  remember,  you  asked  whether 
I  intended  to  become  a  surgeon.  The  question  remains  unan 
swered.  At  that  time,  I  had  seen  enough  to  have  an  idea  of 
the  difficulties  of  an  operation,  but  none  of  its  pleasures : 
now  I  see  a  good  operation  with  the  pleasure  I  used  to  feel 
at  the  successful  solution  of  Euclid's  problems,  —  a  pleasure 
greater  than  almost  any  I  know.  I  have  acquired  that 
taste,  that  high  relish,  for  these,  without  which  no  man 
can  exert  himself  for  the  attainment  of  any  art ;  and  am 
only  surprised  that  I  was  so  long  blind.  There  are  opera 
tions  almost  every  day,  —  the  stone,  hydrocele,  cataract,  and 
amputations  innumerable  ;  but  Mr.  Cline's  operations  for 
aneurism  or  hernia  are  grand.  It  is  pleasure  to  see  him 
take  up  or  turn  his  knife.  There  are  some  observations 
respecting  these  matters  which  I  have  not  now  sufficient 
time  to  communicate,  but  shall  take  the  first  opportunity. 
The  lectures  have  gratified  me  very  much :  they  have  such 
immense  advantages  from  the  preparations.  Not  a  part  but 
is  elegantly  prepared  ;  some  injected  with  quicksilver,  some 
with  wax ;  dried  and  wet.  Every  morbid  appearance  is 
here  preserved.  You  well  know  how  much  clearer  an  idea 
is  conveyed  by  these  specimens  than  can  be  done  by  a  dead, 
flaccid  body.  If  I  had  time,  I  should  make  many  myself ; 
but  I  despair  of  doing  a  quarter  of  what  I  wish,  here.  Dis 
section  is  carried  on  in  style :  twelve  or  fifteen  bodies  in  a 


32  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [JET.  21. 

room ;  the  young  men  at  work  on  them  in  different  ways. 
The  people  called  resurrection-men  supply  us  abundantly. 
An  odd  circumstance  happened  some  time  since.     A  hungry 
beggar  had  got  some  bread,  and  ate  with  so  much  avidity  as 
to  suffocate  himself  and  fall  down  in  the  street.     One  of  the 
resurrection-men,  passing,  immediately  claimed  the  man  as 
his  brother,  took  him  to  the  dissecting  theatre  of  St.  Tho 
mas,  and  secured  a  good  price.     The  man's  trachea  is  now 
made  into  ^"preparation .     The  surgeons  here,  considering 
themselves  at  the  head  of  their  profession,  dare  to  differ 
from  everybody  else,  if  they  think  they  have  truth  with 
them.    No  authority  is  believed  sufficient  to  prevent  inquiry : 
thus,  much  of  the  rubbish  left  by  Haller  is  cleared  away, 
and  even  some  of  his  own  works  overturned.     A  new  theory 
of  generation  is  brought  forward  ;  but  what  is  infinitely  more 
important  than  the  best-wrought  theory,  are  the  discoveries 
respecting  the  absorbents.     Much  has  been  done,  and  all  the 
able  anatomists  and  physiologists  are  employed  upon  the  sub 
ject.     In  this  and  every  other  research,  the  people  here  look 
for  facts  :   they  trust  no  theory,  but  experiment  is  the  only 
creed.     Go  to  Edinburgh  for  theory !     I  have  much  to  say 
on  many  of  these  particulars,  but  must  defer  it  to  another 
time.     I  receive  so  much  pleasure  from  the  pursuits  in 
which  I  am  absorbed,  that  I  hardly  have  time  to  think  of 
my  disconnected  situation.     The  acquaintances  of  a  letter 
of  introduction  are  most  of  them  at  an  end :  and  this  is,  in 
truth,  a  fortunate  circumstance ;  for  my  time  is  so  totally 
and  completely  occupied,  that  I  can  hardly  squeeze  out  half 
an  hour  to  inquire  if  there  are  any  ships  for  America.     You 
may  be  astonished  to  hear  of  retirement  in  London ;  but  I 
live  in  a  more  complete  solitude  than  if  I  were  at  Castle 
Hill.*     No  one  comes  to  see  me  but  Senter  ;  nor  do  I  visit 

*  His  grandfather's  (Governor  Collins's)  farm  at  Newport. 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  33 

any  one  but  him,  except  sometimes  on  Sundays,  —  the  only 
day  I  ever  dine  out.  I  form  no  acquaintances  with  the  young 
men,  that  extend  further  than  the  walls  of  the  hospital. 
When  the  stimulus  of  company  is  taken  away,  I  find  .that 
nature  can  be  supported  with  much  less  than  I  could  have 
believed.  My  food  is  as  simple  as  possible ;  but  contents  as 
well,  and  preserves  my  health  better,  than  when  I  lived 
richly.  On  the  whole,  I  do  not  spend  a  half-penny  that  I 
can  help  ;  and  there  are  some  books  I  should  like  to  possess, 
which  I  do  not  think  I  can  afford.  Perhaps  this  may  savor 
too  much  of  egotism :  but  I  suppose  you  would  wish  to  have 
some  idea  of  my  manner  of  living ;  and,  besides,  I  wish  to 
convince  you,  as  far  as  is  proper  for  me,  that  the  confidence 
you  have  testified  in  me  in  your  last  letter  is  not  misplaced. 
That,  however,  can  only  be  fully  known  to  you  by  futurity. 
It  is  sufficient  that  I  appreciate  the  opportunities  I  enjoy ; 
that  I  know  any  useless  expense  must  destroy  some  of  these 
advantages.  If,  under  these  circumstances,  I  am  idle  or 
extravagant,  what  am  I  ?  I  have  always  believed  that  a 
young  man  of  spirit  would  be  better  with  confidence  reposed 
in  him,  than  when  shackled  by  caution.  For  this  reason, 
when  I  left  my  country,  I  did  not  seem  to  listen  to  the 
advice  everybody  was  giving  me.  Perhaps  pride  was  in 
the  case  likewise  ;  but  I  love  pride.  It  has  always  been  of 
service  to  me  ;  and  I  would  not  relinquish  it  in  the  presence 
of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  or  any  other  man. 

You  have  no  idea,  sir,  what  a  shocking  place  this  is  in 
winter.  No  cold  weather,  for  the  grass  is  perfectly  green  ; 
but  a  constant  drizzling,  that  keeps  the  town  dirty  as  a  ken 
nel,  notwithstanding  all  that  can  be  done.  The  air  is 
thickened  with  smoke  and  vapors,  so  that  it  is  scarcely 
respirable ;  and  as  for  the  sun,  no  one  can  tell  when  he  was 
seen.  The  days  are  five  hours  long ;  or,  more  strictly  speak 
ing,  there  are  five  hours  of  twilight :  for,  while  I  have  been 

5 


34  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [^Err.  21. 

writing,  I  have,  within  this  week,  been  obliged  to  stop  almost 
every  day,  at  some  part  of  it,  so  totally  dark  was  it.  Many 
have  already  cut  their  throats ;  and,  if  the  present  weather 
lasts  (which  it  will),  a  terrible  slaughter  will  take  place,  I 
dare  say.  They  have,  however,  plenty  of  amusements  here  : 
in  truth,  there  is  amusement  at  every  step  through  the 
streets  of  London.  I  constantly  meet  something  new  and 
interesting  in  this  wonderful  place.  Mrs.  Siddons  is  now 
playing  ;  but,  the  theatre  being  at  a  great  distance,  I  cannot 
go  there  so  often  as  I  wish.  I  have  not,  therefore,  yet  seen 
this  celebrated  woman ;  but  shall  take  the  first  opportunity. 
I  have  but  this  day  learnt  that  a  ship  sails  for  Boston  to 
morrow  ;  and  must,  therefore,  say  less  than  I  wished  to.  I 
shall,  however,  soon  write  again  to  you,  and  to  some  of  my 
friends.  Gurley  will,  I  hope,  write  to  me  by  every  opportu 
nity.  I  cannot  refrain  from  thanking  you  for  the  length  of 
your  letter,  engaged  as  you  are  at  every  moment.  Sir,  I 
beg  you  will  spare  me  as  much  time  as  you  can.  Please  to 
tell  my  dear  mother  that  her  letters  are  short  and  sweet ; 
but  I  cannot  think  they  would  be  less  sweet  were  they 
longer.  Will  none  of  my  brothers  or  sisters  write  ?  It 
would  be  useless  to  enumerate  all  the  friends  I  would  be 
remembered  to.  Tell  them,  I  think  of  them  all  particularly, 
and  would  write  to  them  had  I  time ;  but  I  have  already 
written  to  more  than  have  returned  it,  and  more  than  I  ever 
will  again.  Wish  my  Aunt  Polly  joy  for  me.  I  am  rejoiced 
that  H.  is  so  well  recovered  from  the  accident.  Give  my 
love  to  every  one  of  them,  and,  most  of  all,  to  my  mother. 
The  "  Minerva  "  is  every  day  expected.  After  receiving  my 
letters  by  her,  I  shall  write  by  a  ship  to  sail  at  the  end  of 
this  month. 

Most  respectfully, 

Your  affectionate  son, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


1799.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  35 

"The  information  that  our  family  was  well,  and  my 
native  town  in  a  fair  way  to  escape  the  ravages  of  the  yellow 
fever,  contributed  to  make  me  happy.  I  have  been  ex 
tremely  anxious  respecting  the  appearance  of  that  dreadful 
disorder  again.  Knowing  that  you  take  so  few  precautions, 
and  that  you  hazard  yourself  so  much  in  every  case  of 
danger,  I  with  reason  dreaded  its  effects.  Should  I  hear 
that  it  has  appeared  in  Boston,  I  shall  a  thousand  times 
wish  that  I  had  never  seen  the  Atlantic.  Rest  assured,  sir, 
that  my  highest  happiness  consists  in  thinking  of  home, 
and  that  all  the  novel  scenes  of  England  or  of  all  Europe 
would  have  no  effect  in  obliterating  the  remembrance  of  my 
friends ;  nor  even  would  they  at  all  compensate  for  the  ab 
sence  from  my  family." 

September,  1799.  — "I  am  the  luckiest  dog  in  life !  I  was 
called  away  at  the  end  of  the  last  period  (i.e.,  while  visiting 
Netley  Abbey  with  some  ladies,  and  proposing  to  explore  a 
subterraneous  passage)  to  a  dislocated  shoulder,  which  I 
have  reduced  in  very  handsome  style.  Within  the  three 
first  days  of  my  week,  I  have  had  one  fracture,  and  one 
injury  of  the  cranium ;  one  fractured  leg,  and  another  that 
we  thought  was  fractured  at  first ;  one  fracture  of  the  ribs, 
and  this  dislocation  ;  besides  two  or  three  trifling  accidents. 
I  have  been  exceedingly  fortunate  every  way ;  and  I  verily 
begin  to  think  I  shall  be  famous." 

Jan.  24, 1800.  —  "  Rest  assured,  sir,  I  am  tolerably  closely 
employed.  I  neither  eat,  drink,  nor  sleep  much :  for  one 
sound  is  singing  in  my  ears  ;  keeps  me  waking  at  night,  and 
rouses  me  in  the  morning,  — '  There  is  no  time  to  lose.9  My 
anxiety  to  return  home  is  very  great;  but  my  anxiety  to 
return  with  proper  improvements,  with  such  acquisitions  as 
shall  make  me  respectable  in  my  own  and  in  the  eyes  of 
others,  and  shall  raise  me  a  little  above  the  common  herd, 
is  much  greater  than  that." 


36  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [jET.  22. 

March  12,  1800.  —  "  Bread  is  so  scarce,  that  an  Act  has 
passed  for  eating  old  bread  instead  of  new.  Pastry  is  laid 
aside  by  the  great ;  and  the  king  eats  no  bread  with  his 
meat.  A  variety  of  substitutes  for  bread  are  proposed  by 
the  schemers.  Some  say  potatoes  ;  others,  rice  ;  and  some 
would  have  bread  made  of  one-third  sawdust,  finely  levi 
gated.  You  would  be  immensely  diverted  to  hear  all  the 
schemes  mentioned. 

"The  'Medical  Repository'  is  very  well  received  here. 
Should  you  send  me  one  or  two  copies  of  each  number,  I 
could  dispose  of  them  to  much  advantage ;  to  Drs.  Lettsom 
and  Hawes  particularly.  I  should  be  very  glad  of  the  publi 
cation  respecting  the  yellow  fever,  for  which  you  subscribed, 
if  it  is  yet  out ;  and  a  spare  copy  of  the  letters  of  our  im 
mortal  Washington.  All  these  things  would  be  exceedingly 
acceptable  here. 

"  Last  evening,  I  was  at  the  theatre.  The  king  and  his 
family  were  there.  At  such  times,  the  house  is  always  filled  ; 
and  I  underwent  more  suffering  than  I  would  again  for 
all  the  kings  in  Christendom.  The  queen  and  princesses 
are  all  ugly.  The  princes  are  handsome  men.  The  house 
was  full  of  nobility ;  many  of  the  ladies  completely  stuck 
over  with  jewels.  In  truth,  there  are  many  more  jewels 
than  beauties  among  these  noble  ladies.  The  men,  how 
ever,  as  well  as  all  the  genteeler  class  of  Englishmen,  are 
handsome.  Both  men  and  women  walk  better,  and  have 
generally  a  more  elegant  air,  than  in  America.'' 

June  8,  1800.  —  "  Nobody  here  believes  that  the  Bour 
bons  will  reign  again  in  France.  Travellers,  who  passed 
through  France  at  different  periods,  say  that,  in  spite  of 
war,  the  French  never  were  so  happy,  since  they  existed  as 
a  nation,  as  they  are  at  present.  Bonaparte,  possessed  of 
dictatorial  power,  exercises  it  with  the  highest  wisdom  and 
moderation." 


1800.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  37 

July  9,  1800.  — "  Mr.  William  Cooper,  my  old  master,  is 
succeeded  by  his  nephew,  Mr.  Astley  Cooper,  as  lecturer ; 
a  young  man  of  the  greatest  natural  abilities,  and  almost 
adored  at  the  hospitals.  His  practice  is  directly  the  reverse 
of  his  uncle's.  Old  Mr.  Cooper  would  say,  '  Let  Nature 
alone :  she  will  open  that  abscess  infinitely  better  than  you 
can.'  The  other  says,  '  Had  you  dilated  that  abscess  from 
top  to  bottom  at  first,  it  would  have  been  well  long  ago.' 
The  obligations  I  am  under  to  Mr.  Cooper  are  infinite.  He 
has  always  treated  me  with  the  most  particular  attention, 
and  suffered  no  opportunity  of  instructing  me  to  pass  by.  I 
wish  it  were  possible  to  return,  in  the  smallest  degree,  the 
favors  with  which  he  has  loaded  me. 

"  Mr.  Sheridan  made  a  bold  and  furious  attack  on  Mr.  Pitt 
in  the  House  of  Commons.  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  hear 
this  animated  debate.  Mr.  S.  charged  Pitt  with  deception, 
and  inability  to  conduct  public  affairs.  He  spoke  in  the 
most  exalted  terms  of  Bonaparte ;  and  said,  that,  setting 
aside  the  manner  in  which  he  had  acquired  power,  he  had 
acted  with  singular  virtue,  moderation,  and  magnanimity; 
that  his  military  talents  had  not  been  paralleled  since  the 
days  of  Hannibal.  Mr.  Pitt  answered  by  evasion. 

"  Such  strains  of  eloquence  I  could  scarce  conceive  of. 
Pitt  is  far  the  greater  orator.  His  big  round  periods  roll 
like  thunder  upon  the  ear.  Sheridan's  eloquence  is  more 
like  a  torrent.  At  one  time,  its  force  seems  to  bear  down 
every  thing  before  it ;  then  it  becomes  smooth,  and  flows 
along  with  the  most  delightful  regularity ;  afterwards  it  is 
rough,  broken,  and  interrupted. 

"  I  have  heard  nothing  of  the  hospital  which  was  to  be 
established  in  Boston.  Does  it  progress  ?  and  have  you,  sir, 
a  prospect  of  getting  appointed  to  it  ?  " 

December,  1800. — "If  it  please  God  to  preserve  my 


38  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [M'l.  23. 

health,  I  will  endeavor  to  do  honor  to  my  country  and  to 
my  family.  I  will  attempt  to  repay,  in  some  degree,  the 
obligations  I  feel  for  being  what  I  am.  Talk  no  more  of 
nature,  dear  mother :  it  is  to  you  I  owe  every  improvement 
I  possess. 

"  Nothing  can  be  more  interesting  than  Dr.  Hope's  course. 
His  address  is  so  pleasing,  his  method  and  illustrations  so 
perspicuous,  and  his  experiments  so  striking  and  beautiful, 
that  one  cannot  fail  to  be  delighted  with  the  science  he 
teaches. 

"  Among  other  speculations  which  are  now  the  reigning 
topics  among  chemists  and  philosophers,  the  most  curious  is 
one  on  a  newly  formed  gas,  of  which,  perhaps,  you  have 
already  heard,  —  the  nitrous  oxide  of  azote,  or  gaseous 
oxide  of  azote." 

Mr.  Warren,  as  will  be  seen,  was  keenly  alive  to  any 
reproach  or  slur  upon  the  American  character,  and 
ready  to  resent  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  silence  it,  at 
least  in  his  presence.  Both  in  England  and  France,  he 
adopted  the  resolution  to  avoid,  when  possible,  being 
drawn  into  a  quarrel ;  but,  when  once  in,  to  carry  it 
effectually  through. 

His  political  opinions  before  he  left  home,  his  ha 
tred  of  the  principles  of  the  Sans-culottes,  have  been 
already  described.  In  England  he  was  a  strong 
Republican,  ready,  upon  a  sudden  impulse,  to  frater 
nize  with,  or  rather  to  lead,  a  mob ;  and,  in  one  or 
two  instances,  narrowly  escaped  being  involved  in 
public  disturbances ;  being  once  arrested  by  the  police, 
but  rescued  and  applauded  by  the  people. 

To  those  who  recollect  the  feelings  maintained  a 


1801.]  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  39 

few  years  afterwards  by  the  Federal  party  in  regard  to 
Napoleon,  it  is  striking  and  interesting  to  hear  the 
moderation  and  prudence,  the  freedom  from  selfish 
aims  or  ambitious  views,  of  the  First  Consul,  spoken 
of  in  these  letters;  the  perfect  conviction  enter 
tained,  that  the  freedom  of  the  French  republic 
incurred  no  danger  from  him. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Napoleon  made  Wash 
ington,  if  any  man,  his  first  model.  To  those  who 
incline  to  speculate  upon  past  events,  it  may  be  inte 
resting  to  consider  what  would  have  been  the  after- 
history  of  Napoleon,  if  he  could  have  obtained  his 
earnest  wish  for  peace  and  alliance  with  England. 
England  would  make  no  peace  with  a  usurper :  hence 
Napoleon  could  only  live  in  a  state  of  warfare ;  and 
his  destruction,  with  the  restoration  of  the  Bourbons, 
and  probably  the  Bastille,  or  the  conquest  of  Europe, 
were  the  only  alternatives.  There  is  a  stereotyped 
assertion,  that  the  French  cannot  govern  themselves ; 
and  subsequent  events  go  very  far  to  prove  it.  Still, 
as  we  know  that  Napoleon  had  a  strong  genius  for  the 
wrorks  of  peace,  and  how  much  he  did  for  the  sciences 
and  the  arts,  is  it  not  probable,  that,  had  he  been  per 
mitted,  he  would  have  been  content  with  the  cultiva 
tion  of  those  works,  and  obtained  far  greater  glory  as 
the  benefactor  of  his  nation,  and,  more  or  less,  the 
peaceful  reformer  of  Europe  I 

It  may  be  said  that  this  was  not  possible ;  for  that, 
sooner  or  later,  the  sovereigns  of  the  Continental  na 
tions  must  have  found  that  their  safety  depended  upon 


40  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE.  [JEl.  23. 

crushing  the  Eepublic  and  the  Republican  ruler.  And 
here  probably  lay  the  true  issue  of  the  question,  not 
in  the  moderation  or  the  ambition  of  Bonaparte. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  a  young 
man  of  ardent  feelings  was  disposed  to  admire  the 
genius  and  brilliant  qualities  of  Napoleon,  and  to 
adopt  the  more  generous  views  of  Fox  and  Sheridan, 
rather  than  the  colder  and  more  cautious  ones  of 
Pitt. 

In  writing  from  France,  he  alludes  to  two  dangers 
which  he  supposes  may  be  sources  of  alarm  to  his 
father,  who  feared  the  effect  of  his  residence  there. 
The  first  is  the  adoption  of  ultra  Democratic,  or  Jaco 
binical,  principles.  This  fear,  he  says,  is  perfectly 
unfounded ;  for,  had  he  been  inclined  to  such  princi 
ples  when  he  left  home,  a  very  short  residence  in 
Paris  would  have  cured  him.  The  second  danger 
which  he  supposes  his  father  fears,  —  that  to  his  mo 
rals,  —  he  allows,  is  a  more  serious  one.  Against  this 
danger,  he  thinks  he  is  sufficiently  on  his  guard. 

With  these  extracts  from  his  letters,  we  proceed  to 
his  biographical  notes,  giving  an  account  of  the  same 
period. 


1799-1802.]  SAILING    FOR    EUROPE.  41 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

EUROPE      IN      1799-1802. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

HAVING  passed  a  year  after  leaving  college  without  deciding 
on  a  profession  (employing,  however,  a  considerable  time 
in  the  acquisition  of  the  French  language  from  Professor 
Sales),  I  devoted  a  second  year  to  the  study  of  medicine. 
Then,  having  obtained  permission  to  visit  Europe,  on  the 
morning  of  the  16th  of  June,  1799,  my  luggage  having  been 
sent  on  board  previously,  I  took  leave  of  my  family,  in  School 
Street,  about  eight  o'clock,  and  walked  alone  to  the  ship 
"  Minerva,"  at  Long  Wharf.  I  recollect  my  sensations  at  that 
time  very  distinctly.  Though  not  yet  twenty  years  old,  I 
was  launching  out  into  the  world,  for  the  first  time,  under 
my  own  direction.  I  felt  the  responsibility,  and  the  danger 
of  exposure  ;  and  this,  and  the  quitting  of  my  friends,  at  first 
produced  a  degree  of  despondency.  But  this  soon  passed 
off,  and  left  me  full  of  hope  and  expectation. 

On  board  ship,  I  found  a  number  of  friends,  particularly 
John  Hubbard,  and  his  sister  Miss  Mary  Hubbard,  Miss 
Gear  (now  Mrs.  Tucker),  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higginson,  and 
others.  In  a  short  time,  we  were  under  way  ;  and,  on  the 
following  day,  were  out  of  sight  of  land.  Our  country 
being  at  that  time  at  war  with  France,  our  ship  had  an 
armament  of  twenty-six  pounders.  The  passengers  imme 
diately  enrolled  themselves  to  take  charge  of  some  of  them. 

6 


42  LANDING    IN    ENGLAND.  [^T.  21-24. 

Mr.  Hubbard,  Lieutenant  Sturt,  an  Englishman,  one  seaman, 
and  myself,  had  charge  of  one  quarter-deck  gun.  This  we 
got  to  manoeuvre  with  great  ease  by  daily  exercise.  Some 
times  we  practised  firing  at  marks ;  in  which  I  was,  at  that 
time,  very  successful.  We  often  pursued  other  ships,  and 
were  sometimes  pursued  ourselves.  When  we  arrived  in  the 
English  Channel,  which  was  crowded  with  English  and 
French  cruisers,  we  were  sometimes  detained  by  the  Eng 
lish,  and  treated  rather  roughly.  We  always  gave  them  as 
good  as  their  own ;  and,  on  one  occasion,  our  Captain  Turner 
told  the  captain  of  an  English  ship  that  he  hoped  he  should 
some  time  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  on  the  broad 
sea.  One  of  the  English  lieutenants  who  came  on  board  on 
another  occasion,  noticing  how  angry  we  were  at  being 
stopped,  said  he  had  seen  Americans  before,  and  they  were 
the  most  uneasy  people  he  had  met  with  on  the  seas.  We, 
however,  landed  without  any  fight ;  but,  the  next  voyage, 
the  same  ship  "  Minerva,"  of  twenty  guns  and  forty  men,  was 
attacked  by  a  strong  French  ship-of-war,  having  the  same 
name,  and  carrying  the  same  number  of  guns  and  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  men.  Of  course,  our  "  Minerva  "  was  no  match 
for  such  a  ship,  being  a  thin-sided  merchant-vessel.  She 
made  a  good  fight,  however,  before  she  was  taken ;  and  three 
of  the  four  men  who  were  at  my  gun  were  killed,  or  very 
much  lacerated. 

In  order  to  save  the  voyage  round  to  the  Thames,  the 
passengers  were  set  ashore  at  Deal,  near  Dover.  This 
was  a  sailors'  town,  but  very  neat,  built  of  stone ;  and  the 
first  thing  I  recollect  to  have  noticed  was  a  small  stone 
Gothic  church,  a  thousand  years  old.  This  was  very  delight 
ful  to  us  Americans.  In  the  course  of  the  morning,  we 
understood  there  was  to  be  a  review  just  outside  of  the 
town,  and  walked  out  to  see  it.  There  we  found  a  fine  Bri- 


1799-1802.]  LONDON.  43 

tish  regiment,  and  a  body  of  artillery.  One  of  the  officers, 
seeing  us  there,  spoke  to  one  of  our  party  ;  and,  finding  we 
were  Americans,  immediately  told  us  that  he  had  been  in 
America  in  the  late  war,  and  was,  if  I  recollect  rightly, 
in  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  His  name  was  Captain  Par 
ker.  He  attended  to  us  through  the  review,  and  afterwards 
took  us  to  his  quarters  to  tea.  On  walking  into  town,  we 
had  an  opportunity  of  noticing  the  beauty  and  richness  of 
the  verdure  of  the  swells  called  downs,  and  the  immense 
cliffs  of  chalky  rock,  which  form  a  boundary  to  the  ocean, 
four  or  five  hundred  feet  high. 

The  next  day,  we  set  off  for  London  in  a  fine  English 
stage-coach ;  passed  the  night  at  Sydenham,  and  arrived  in 
London  towards  evening  the  next  day.  We  were  landed  at 
a  small  hotel  near  Soho  Square.  As  we  first  arrived  in  the 
vortex  of  London,  we  began  to  be  astonished.  The  immense 
population,  streets  continued  ten  miles  out,  and  the  vast 
number  of  carriages,  affected  us  certainly  in  a  manner  not 
at  first  agreeable.  We  seemed  to  apprehend  we  never 
shoiild  emerge  from  this  vast  confusion. 

On  the  next  day,  we  changed  our  quarters  to  a  pleasant 
situation  in  Bloomsbury  Square,  —  a  nice  boarding-house, 
kept  by  Mr.  John  Gray,  a  British  refugee  from  America. 
Here  I  met  Dr.  Hewson,  son  of  the  famous  Mr.  Hewson, 
who  wrote  on  the  blood.  He  afterwards  settled  in  Phila 
delphia,  and  died  very  lately.  There  was  also  a  British 
officer  in  the  house  (Captain  Wilson),  who  was  very  kind  to 
me,  showing  me  the  new  things. 

After  remaining  in  this  place  about  a  month,  I  took  a 
journey  through  the  south  of  England,  along  the  south 
coast  to  Southampton,  the  Isle  of  Wight,  Hastings,  Brighton, 
Dover,  Margate.  In  the  latter  place,  I  met  with  General 
Arnold,  the  traitor,  so  called.  He  was  there  witli  his  family. 


44  WILLIAM    COOPER.  [^Ex.  21-24. 

I  recollect  a  son,  very  handsome  ;  and  a  daughter.  Arnold 
was  rather  a  stout  man,  broad-shouldered,  large  black  eyes. 
He  walked  lame,  from  a  wound  received  at  the  attack  of 
Quebec,  I  think. 

The  period  of  lectures  now  approaching,  I  made  an  ar 
rangement  with  Mr.  William  Cooper,  Surgeon  of  Guy's 
Hospital,  to  be  his  dresser  for  a  year  ;  for  which  I  paid  him 
fifty  guineas  ;  that  is,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Mr. 
Cooper  was  senior  surgeon ;  and,  as  it  happened,  I  was 
senior  dresser.  I  was  immediately  put  in  charge  of  about 
forty  patients,  comprising  as  interesting  a  collection  of  sur 
gical  accidents  and  diseases  as  could  be  desired.  A  large 
number  of  these  patients  required  daily  dressing,  which  I 
practised  for  a  year  faithfully.  During  my  week,  I  slept  in 
the  hospital. 

As  Mr.  Cooper  was  well  advanced  in  life,  he  left  matters 
pretty  much  to  me.  He  came  there  only  twice  a  week,  and 
walked  round  with  his  dressers  in  a  very  quiet  way,  making 
amusing  and  instructive  remarks.  He  had  no  great  respect 
for  America,  considering  her  as  having  separated  from  the 
British  empire  before  maturity.  He  was,  however,  very 
much  pleased  to  find  we  were  so  white-complexioned,  and 
so  little  contaminated  with  Indian  blood.  On  one  occasion, 
he  asked  me,  "  Have  you  schools  in  America,  Mr.  Warren  ?  " 
I  gave  him  Judge  Minot's  "  History  of  the  Rebellion  in 
'88."  He  afterwards  said  to  me,  "  Sir,  the  first  sentence 
of  your  American  author  is  bad  logic."  He  was  a  very 
pleasant  man,  however,  and  occasionally  asked  me  to  dine 
with  him.  Finally,  he  resigned  his  office,  and  retired  with 
Mrs.  Cooper,  having  no  children,  to  the  beautiful  town  of 
Tiverton,  in  the  south  of  England,  near  Exeter ;  from  which 
last  city  my  family  originated.  Mr.  Cooper  once  said  to  me, 
"  Your  family  has  a  claim  to  the  estates  of  the  Duke  of 


1799-1802.]  OCCUPATIONS.  45 

Norfolk.  The  Warrens  formerly  held  that  property ;  and, 
now  the  line  of  Howards  is  extinct,  you  can  put  in  your 
claim."  This  gentleman  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew,  Mr. 
Astley  Cooper,  who  was  then  quite  a  young  man,  but  very 
promising.  He  was  one  of  the  handsomest  men  I  ever  saw  ; 
was  always  very  kind  to  me  through  his  life.  My  residence, 
while  at  Guy's  Hospital,  was  in  St.  Thomas  Street,  close  to 
the  hospital.  I  lived  at  a  cork-cutter's,  and  had  two  small 
rooms  on  the  third  story,  —  one  front  and  one  rear.  I  lived 
in  the  usual  manner  of  medical  students ;  that  is,  entirely 
by  myself.  Food  being  provided  by  the  landlady,  I  took  it 
in  my  room.  We  breakfasted  at  nine,  dined  at  three,  and 
drank  tea  irregularly.  My  time  was  wholly  occupied  at  the 
hospital ;  and,  of  course,  there  was  no  great  tedium.  In 
the  morning,  I  went  through  my  dressings  ;  at  noon,  attended 
Olive  and  Cooper's  lectures  ;  dissected  in  the  afternoon  ;  and 
wrote  off  my  notes  at  night.  This  last  I  did  with  great 
regularity ;  and  got  a  fair  copy,  in  epitome,  of  the  lectures 
above  mentioned  ;  and  also  of  Sir  Astley  Cooper's  lectures 
on  surgery,  in  the  evening.  At  the  same  time,  I  attended  a 
complete  course  of  midwifery  by  Dr.  Haighton,  and  a  course 
of  physiology  by  the  same  gentleman.  We  had  also  a  good 
course  of  lectures  on  the  teeth,  by  Mr.  Fox. 

Saturday  or  Sunday,  I  often  dined  out,  and  particularly 
at  Mr.  Gore's,  a  commissioner  in  London :  in  which  case,  I 
always  walked  from  the  borough,  so  called,  where  the  hospi 
tal  was,  to  his  house,  four  miles  off,  and  back  again ;  and 
never  thought  of  taking  a  hackney-coach,  of  which,  in  fact, 
there  were  very  few  at  that  time.  I  do  not  recollect  to 
have  ridden  in  a  gig  all  the  time  I  was  in  England,  but 
was  once  or  twice  on  horseback.  Sometimes  I  went  to  the 
theatre,  in  the  evening,  to  see  Mrs.  Siddons  or  Mr.  Kemble. 
But  this  happened  very  rarely,  perhaps  on  account  of  the 


46  ADDRESSES    A    MOB.  [^T.  21-24. 

distance  ;  for  Drury  Lane  and  Covent  Garden  were  about 
three  miles  from  the  borough. 

One  evening,  in  going  from  my  lodgings  to  the  West  End 
of  the  town,  I  fell  in  with  a  mob,  which  was  raised  on 
account  of  a  scarcity  of  bread.  Instead  of  keeping  clear  of 
it,  as  would  have  been  wise,  I  entered  into  it,  and  talked  with 
the  people,  to  ascertain  what  their  views  and  objects  were. 
At  this  time,  a  charge  was  made  upon  the  mob  by  a  body  of 
dragoons ;  and  every  one  was  obliged  to  save  himself  as  he 
could.  This  attack  irritated  me  among  others ;  and  we  ral 
lied,  and  made  preparations  for  defence.  Soon  after,  we 
were  assailed  by  a  body  of  police.  Sympathizing  with  the 
people,  who  were  in  a  state  of  starvation,  and  irritated  by 
the  attacks,  I  got  on  the  edge  of  the  sidewalk,  and  began 
to  address  the  crowd  on  their  unhappy  condition.  They 
were  highly  delighted  to  find  a  person,  dressed  like  a  gentle 
man,  haranguing  in  their  favor ;  and  loudly  cheered,  and 
demanded  a  repetition  of  the  harangue.  At  this  moment,  a 
gentleman  spoke  to  me,  drew  me  aside,  and  represented  the 
dangerous  position  I  was  taking;  and  that,  although  the 
people  were  in  a  suffering  state,  they  were  not  likely  to  get 
any  remedy  in  this  way.  I  readily  understood  this,  of 
course  ;  and,  having  no  great  desire  to  be  apprehended  as 
the  leader  of  a  mob,  I  walked  oif  with  him  in  the  direction 
I  had  been  going  :  and  he,  having  ascertained  what  course  I 
was  taking,  offered  to  show  me  the  way ;  for  it  so  happened, 
that,  in  following  the  mob,  I  had  been  drawn  entirely  away 
from  the  usual  route  from  the  east  to  west,  into  the  compli 
cated  streets  and  lanes  of  the  northern  part  of  London. 
However,  this  gentleman  went  with  me  a  good  distance,  told 
me  he  was  an  officer  in  the  army,  that  he  had  no  connection 
with  the  police,  and  that  his  speaking  to  me  was  accidental. 
I  then  as  freely  told  him  who  I  was,  and  made  him  understand 


1799-1802.]  RESIDENCE    IN    LONDON.  47 

I  had  no  desire  to  overturn  the  British  government.  By  a 
long  and  perilous  route,  I  reached  my  destination,  and 
walked  back  to  the  borough  the  same  evening. 

Among  those  whom  I  was  most  acquainted  with  in  London 
was  one  of  my  brother-dressers,  —  Mr.  Roots,  of  Kingston 
on  Thames.  He  was  of  a  good  English  family,  a  person  of 
fine  natural  talents,  great  wit,  a  ready  writer,  but  more 
fond  of  pleasure  than  of  labor.  From  him  I  learnt  more  of 
the  manners,  customs,  and  feelings  of  the  English  people 
than  I  could  have  obtained  from  common  intercourse.  He 
was  highly  aristocratic,  and  had  a  great  respect  for  the  class 
of  nobility,  and  seemed  to  be  free  from  the  least  jealousy  of 
their  superior  advantages.  He  told  me,  that,  in  his  section 
of  the  country,  there  were  certain  noblemen  who  were 
looked  on  as  the  fathers  of  the  people.  They  were  not  only 
liberal  with  money,  he  said,  but  studious  in  their  politeness 
towards  their  inferiors.  I  kept  up  a  correspondence  with 
him  for  many  years,  and  visited  his  residence  at  Kingston 
when  I  was  in  England  the  second  time. 

At  Mr.  Gore's,  afterwards  Governor  Gore,  I  was  quite  at 
home.  I  was  often  at  the  minister's,  Mr.  King ;  and  was 
well  acquainted  with  Mr.  Trumbull,  the  painter,  who  was  a 
commissioner ;  Mr.  Samuel  Cabot,  Secretary  of  the  Commis 
sion  ;  and  Mr.  Samuel  Williams,  consul. 

The  most  distinguished  medical  men  of  that  time  were 
Dr.  Saunders,  Ralph,  and  Babington,  in  Guy's  Hospital.  At 
St.  Thomas's  was  Dr.  Fordyce  ;  at  St.  Bartholomew's,  Mr. 
Abernethy ;  and  at  St.  George's,  Sir  Everard  Home. 

The  second  summer  I  was  in  London,  I  visited  Oxford  in 
company  with  Mr.  John  Pickering.  He  being  a  classical 
scholar,  and  an  old  college  acquaintance,  we  had  a  delightful 
visit.  He  gave  me  a  small  Didot's  Virgil,  which  I  have 
retained  to  this  time.  And  the  mention  of  this  brings  to  my 


48  OLD    TORIES.  OET.  21-24. 


mind  that  Mr.  William  Cooper  gave  me  a  beautiful  Elzevir 
edition  of  Caesar's  "  Commentaries,"  which  I  also  have. 
Dr.  Stark,  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  gave  me  another  edition  of 
Caesar,  also  carefully  preserved.  Dr.  Simmons,  whom  I 
was  much  with  in  Edinburgh,  gave  me  a  neat  copy  of 
"  Junius." 

My  life  in  London  was,  on  the  whole,  very  pleasant,  my 
time  fully  occupied  ;  and  although  I  was  situated  in  a 
remote,  dark,  unhealthy  part  of  the  city,  I  never  felt  any 
thing  like  ennui.  Occasionally,  the  common  routine  was 
enlivened  by  a  visit  to  some  remarkable  place  ;  as  some 
ancient  church,  Westminster  Abbey  for  instance.  I  walked 
to  the  abbey,  which  was  not  over  three  miles,  towards  the 
close  of  the  day,  when  the  setting  sun  shone  through  its 
colored  windows,  making  impressions  on  my  mind  which  are 
still  fresh  in  my  recollection. 

I  was  kindly  received  in  London  in  the  houses  of  a  num 
ber  of  the  refugees,  or  "  old  Tories,"  as  they  were  called. 
They  were  usually  gentlemen  of  advanced  age,  living  very 
comfortably.  They  were  remarkably  healthy  ;  which  was 
attributed  to  their  change  of  climate,  and  their  return,  as 
Sir  Charles  Lyell  would  say,  to  their  native  air.  Among 
them,  I  often  visited  Harrison  Gray,  Esq.,  of  Rathbone 
Place,  Oxford  Street  ;  the  Vassals,  a  distinguished  Boston 
family,  who  lived  at  Clapham,  four  miles  from  London  ;  and 
the  Timminses,  of  the  same  place.  Mr.  Vassal  used  to  exe 
crate,  in  strong  language,  the  conduct  of  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature  to  him  and  his  family  in  confiscating  their  es 
tates.  William  Vassal,  who  was  a  classmate  of  my  father's, 
lived  in  the  west  of  England  ;  and  I  never  saw  him  but  once, 
which  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Joy.  The  Joys  were  also 
very  kind  to  me  ;  and  Mr.  George  Joy  has  frequently  written 
to  me  since. 


1799-1802.]  LIVERPOOL.  49 

In  the  autumn  of  1800,  I  left  London  for  Edinburgh,  in 
company  with  my  friend  Mr.  Jones,  mentioned  elsewhere  as 
the  author  of  the  treatise  on  the  hemorrhage  of  divided 
arteries.  His  work  on  this  subject  is  the  most  important 
addition  to  surgical  pathology  that  I  recollect.  Jones  was  a 
West  Indian,  a  native  of  Barhadoes.  He  resided  much  in 
England  ;  but  ultimately  returned  to  his  native  island,  and 
died  there  at  an  early  period.  He  was  a  person  of  elevated 
character,  excellent  talents,  and  great  industry.  We  left 
London  together  in  a  post-chaise,  —  a  very  expensive  but 
delightful  mode  of  conveyance,  as  it  enables  one  to  stop 
at  any  moment  to  examine  an  interesting  spot ;  to  go  fast 
or  slow,  the  speed  being  determined  by  the  presents  you 
make  to  the  postilion.  We  took  about  a  month  to  go  to 
Edinburgh ;  stopping,  of  course,  at  all  interesting  spots. 
Our  first  day's  visit  brought  us  to  Cambridge,  where  we 
remained  long  enough  to  visit  many  beautiful  and  classical 
spots.  Among  these,  the  most  captivating  is  the  beautiful 
river  Cam,  with  its  grassy  banks,  flowing  through  the  midst 
of  the  colleges. 

From  Cambridge  we  went  through  Huntingdon,  the 
birthplace  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  to  Derbyshire,  and  examined 
all  the  wonders  of  that  country,  so  interesting  in  a  pic 
turesque  and  geological  view.  Matlock  is  decidedly  the 
most  attractive  of  these.  Its  precipitous  mountains,  deep 
valleys,  and  romantic  waterfalls,  form  pictures  in  which 
nothing  is  wanting  to  satisfy  the  imagination.  From  Derby 
shire  we  crossed  the  country  to  Liverpool,  which  was  then 
in  an  incipient  state.  We  made  no  stay  there,  as  there  was 
nothing  interesting.  But  our  visit  was  enlivened  by  the 
occurrence  of  an  extempore  party.  We  met  at  tea  or  supper 
about  a  dozen  Englishmen,  —  travellers,  merchants,  farmers, 
country  gentlemen.  They  seemed  to  be  a  good  hearty  set 


50  SKIDDAW    AND    SCROFFLE.  [JET.  21-24. 

of  people.  We  soon  got  acquainted,  and  sat  down  together 
as  cordially  as  if  we  had  been  old  friends.  After  a  good 
supper  of  beefsteak  and  coffee,  the  conversation  became 
very  free  ;  and  it  was  soon  agreed  that  each  man  should  tell 
a  story,  sing  a  song,  or  pay  a  smart  fine.  This  was  carried 
into  full  execution.  Though  many  of  the  songs  were  not 
very  musical,  they  excited  peals  of  applause  proportionate 
to  the  utter  defect  of  any  thing  like  music.  From  Liver 
pool,  we  went  to  the  celebrated  Lakes  of  Cumberland  and 
Westmoreland.  The  waters  of  Windermere,  Derwent,  and 
Keswick,  exceeded  every  thing  in  picturesque  beauty  which 
I  have  seen  before  or  since.  Near  the  south  end  of  the  Lake 
of  Keswick,  there  is  a  very  perfect  Druidical  circle,  I  think 
about  a  hundred  feet  in  diameter.  Every  stone  is  sacredly 
preserved  in  its  place.  At  the  other  or  northern  end  of  the 
lake  is  seen  the  mountain  Skiddaw,  which  reminded  me  of 
the  versicle  I  used  to  read,  when  a  child,  in  Colver's  folio 
account  of  England,  in  which  he  says  the  country  people 
about  the  Lake  of  Keswick  know  when  a  storm  is  approach 
ing.  The  proverb  is,  — 

"  If  Skiddaw's  top  have  a  cap, 
Scroffle  wots  full  well  of  that," 

Scroffle  is  a  village  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake  from 
Skiddaw.  My  recollection  of  this  poetical  proverb  shows 
the  use  of  poetry  in  aiding  the  memory ;  for,  if  this  had 
been  written  in  prose,  it  probably  would  not  have  come 
into  my  recollection  so  perfectly  after  .the  lapse  of  fifty 
years. 

In  the  north  of  England,  we  passed  through  the  city  of 
Lancaster,  —  a  small  town,  but  very  ancient,  containing  the 
relics  of  a  castle,  where,  for  aught  I  know,  John  of  Gaunt 
was  born.  At  Carlisle  (which  was  the  next  considerable 


1799-1802.]  EDINBURGH.  51 

town,  and,  like  all  the  English  towns,  very  neat  and  beauti 
ful,  containing  ancient  stone  churches,  and  surrounded  by 
mouldering  stone  walls)  we  met  a  gentleman  who  was  going 
to  Scotland.  Dr.  Jones  and  myself,  as  is  very  common  in 
England,  engaged  a  post-chaise  with  this  stranger.  Our  next 
and  last  day's  journey  from  Carlisle  to  Edinburgh  was  one 
hundred  miles,  to  be  performed  in  one  day  by  post-chaises. 
We  set  out,  therefore,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and, 
without  seeing  any  thing  that  made  an  impression  on  my 
mind,  we  reached  Edinburgh  on  the  same  evening,  and  were 
landed  at  the  George  Hotel  in  the  new  town.  Here  I 
remained  a  few  days  to  look  up  lodgings ;  and  fortunately 
found  a  very  good  room  at  Mrs.  Burrill's,  Beecher  Place, 
in  the  old  town.  My  room  was  in  the  sixth  story,  or  flat,  as 
they  called  it.  It  was  a  very  large  room,  containing  a  niche 
with  a  bed  at  one  end.  Here  I  lived  very  comfortably  on  a 
quartern-loaf  of  bread,  a  mutton-chop,  and  potato  cooked  in 
the  Scotch  way,  which  is  very  good ;  tea,  with  bread  and 
butter,  morning  and  night.  The  quartern-loaf  lasted  a 
fortnight.  I  scarcely  ever  dined  out ;  had  no  fellow-lodger 
but  one  American,  —  Mr.  Clay,  of  Virginia.  He,  though 
a  very  pleasant  man,  was  rather  dissipated,  and  was  out  a 
large  part  of  the  time  ;  so  that  we  rarely  came  together,  and 
always  took  our  meals  apart.  Very  rarely,  we  had  a  meet 
ing  of  the  Americans  and  West  Indians,  which  was  generally 
held  in  one  of  our  rooms.  There  was,  I  think,  no  Northern 
man  there  except  myself;  but  a  large  number  of  Virginians 
and  South  Carolinians.  Most  of  the  West  Indians  preferred 
our  society  to  that  of  the  English  or  Scotch  ;  and  some  of  them 
were  very  good  men,  with  whom  I  retained  communication 
through  the  greater  part  of  my  life.  So  far  as  I  know,  they 
are  all  dead  now.  Once  I  dined  at  a  great  feast  given  by 
the  Scottish  Whigs  to  Lord  Erskine ;  which  was  the  first 


52  LECTURES    AT    EDINBURGH.  [^T.  21-24. 

great  political  dinner  I  ever  attended.  There  was  a  great 
deal  of  speech-making,  and  enough  of  eating  and  drink 
ing. 

The  latter  part  of  the  time  I  was  in  Edinburgh,  my 
friend  Roots  came  there  ;  and,  Clay  having  gone,  I  took  him 
into  our  elevated  apartment,  and  passed  some  weeks  very 
pleasantly  with  him. 

My  course  at  Edinburgh  was  to  rise  at  eight  in  the  morn 
ing  ;  and,  having  breakfasted,  to  go  to  Dr.  Gregory's  lecture 
at  nine,  Dr.  Hope's  chemistry  at  ten,  John  and  Charles  Bell 
at  eleven,  infirmary  at  twelve,  Munro's  anatomy  and  sur 
gery  at  one.  I  got  home  about  three,  and  dined  ;  then  passed 
the  afternoon  and  evening  in  writing  off  lectures :  not  the 
whole  of  them,  of  course ;  for  that  would  be  impossible. 
But  I  took  notes  of  all  of  them,  and  wrote  off,  first,  infirmary 
cases,  of  which  I  have  quite  a  collection. 


1799-1802.]  LEAVES    EDINBURGH.  53 


CHAPTER   V. 

EUROPE      IN      1799-1802. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

EDINBURGH  is  undoubtedly  the  place  for  a  student.  Every 
thing  there  is  calculated  for  study.  There  is,  however,  lit 
tle  association  between  the  students  and  the  inhabitants ; 
which  is,  of  course,  a  great  disadvantage  to  the  former.  On 
the  4th  of  June,  1801,  I  left  Edinburgh  to  go  to  Paris. 
There  being  at  that  time  war  between  Great  Britain  and 
France,  it  was  impossible  to  go  direct  to  the  latter  country. 
It  was  thought  safe,  however,  to  proceed  to  Holland,  though 
this  country  was  under  the  power  of  France.  I  therefore 
took  passage  in  a  supposed  neutral  vessel  belonging  to  the 
city  of  Papenberg,  having  for  my  companion  a  Virginian  by 
the  name  of  Flournoy.  The  vessel  was  small ;  and  there  was 
but  one  berth  for  us,  and  that  too  short.  There  were  no 
other  passengers  but  ourselves  ;  and  the  crew,  being  Dutch, 
were  not  acquainted  with  the  English-  language.  The 
Dutch  not  being  famous  for  fast  sailing,  we  were  a  week  in 
crossing  the  North  Sea ;  living  upon  salt  pork,  beef,  and 
cabbage.  One  night,  we  suddenly  found  ourselves  sur 
rounded  by  a  large  fleet  of  ships  of  war,  some  of  them  of 
the  largest  size.  The  captain  directly  knew  it  was  a  British 
fleet,  there  being  no  other  ships  of  war  which  could  navigate 
the  ocean  at  that  time.  Our  little  vessel  lay  directly  under 
the  stern  of  an  immense  line-of-battle  ship  of  the  first  class  ; 
and  the  latter,  being  magnified  by  the  obscurity,  had  a  most 


54  HOLLAND.  [&1.  21-24. 

imposing  appearance.  They  allowed  us  to  pass,  however; 
and  we  arrived  safely  at  Rotterdam,  after  sailing  up  the 
Maese,  through  a  country  perfectly  flat,  and  on  a  level  below 
our  vessel.  The  novelty  of  the  very  clean,  straight  streets, 
sometimes  lined  with  trees,  and  a  multitude  of  canals  inter 
secting  the  city  in  all  directions,  struck  us  very  agreeably. 
The  air  of  cleanliness  which  pervaded  every  thing  was  par 
ticularly  displayed  in  the  hotel,  where  we  found  a  great 
assemblage  of  people  from  various  nations,  —  French,  Ger 
mans,  English,  Americans.  We  soon  made  acquaintances, 
and  found  ourselves  very  much  at  home.  The  next  day, 
visited  a  very  large  anatomical  museum,  which  was  shown 
by  a  portly  Dutch  woman  with  perfect  sang-froid. 

From  Rotterdam  we  went  to  the  most  famous  cities  in 
Holland,  —  Amsterdam,  the  Hague,  Leyden,  &c.  In  the 
latter  town,  we  called  on  the  famous  Professor  Sandefort, 
who  showed  us  the  anatomical  collection  of  Ruysch,  famous 
for  the  most  beautiful  injected  preparations  which  have  ever 
been  made. 

Here  I  bought  a  great  collection  of  books ;  for,  going  into 
a  bookseller's  shop,  when  he  found  we  were  strangers  (as  he 
readily  did  ;  for  we  spoke  no  Dutch,  but  only  French),  he  told 
us,  that,  now  the  French  had  the  mastery  of  Holland,  his  trade 
was-at  an  end ;  and  he  should  be  glad  to  sell  as  many  books 
as  we  could  carry  away,  for  a  very  little  money.  I  ventured 
to  purchase  of  him,  though  without  knowing  how  I  should 
ever  get  them  out  of  the  country,  a  large  box  of  anatomical 
works,  principally  plates,  which  I  had  packed  up,  and  left 
with  directions  to  ship  them  for  Boston  the  first  opportunity. 
The  bookseller  was  highly  delighted  with  his  bargain  ;  and 
I  paid  him,  I  think,  about  seventeen  dollars  for  this  boxful. 
The  books  arrived  safe  home  in  due  time  ;  and,  being  gene 
rally  in  Latin,  have  been  among  the  most  useful  in  my  library. 


1799-1802.]  BRUSSELS.  55 

From  Holland  we  went  into  the  Low  Countries,  particu 
larly  Antwerp  and  Brussels.  The  immense  stone  houses, 
with  court-yards,  the  windows  barred  with  iron  as  strong  as 
our  jails,  presented  a  contrast  to  the  buildings  we  had  been 
accustomed  to  in  England  and  our  own  country.  Antwerp, 
formerly  one  of  the  great  marts  of  Europe,  was  almost  des 
titute  of  inhabitants :  a  vast  number  of  houses  unoccupied, 
many  of  which  we  might  have  purchased  for  a  quarter  part 
of  their  original  worth.  In  Brussels,  I  went  once  to  the 
theatre,  and  was  much  struck  with  the  chivalric  air  of 
the  people  ;  which  might,  perhaps,  be  partly  produced  by  my 
imagination,  when  I  brought  to  mind  the  wars  of  Charles 
the  Bold,  Duke  of  Burgundy,  and  the  military  operations 
which  that  country  had  been  the  scene  of  from  the  time  of 
the  Romans  to  the  present  day. 

At  Brussels  it  was  necessary  to  get  permission  to  go  into 
France  ;  and  whether  this  could  be  obtained  was  a  matter  of 
some  uncertainty.  It  was  necessary  to  undergo  full  exami 
nation  before  the  Prefect  of  the  Department.  So  I  took  my 
passports  from  home  and  from  our  minister  in  London  (Mr. 
King),  and  waited  on  the  prefect.  I  found  him  to  be  a 
Frenchman,  good-looking,  very  keen  ;  dressed  in  a  long 
sky-blue  frock,  with  morocco  slippers.  He  turned  over 
my  passports,  took  a  thorough  survey  of  me,  and  said 
my  papers  should  be  ready  at  a  certain  hour.  So,  after 
paying  a  small  fee,  I  received  them,  and  set  out  the  next 
day  for  Paris  in  a  diligence.  We  were  two  or  three  days  on 
the  route,  travelling  day  and  night  with  the  same  passengers 
(about  six  on  the  inside) ;  and  passed  through  a  great  number 
of  famous  towns,  which  had  been  rendered  particularly 
remarkable  by  the  recent  events  of  the  French  Revolution. 
Among  these  was  Cambray,  with,  its  quadruple  walls ; 
Mons,  where  the  French  alarmed  the  inhabitants  by  floating 


56  BONAPARTE.  [^T.  21-24. 

balloons  over  their  heads  ;  Lamear  and  Valenciennes,  the 
latter  of  which  exhibited  the  destructive  effects  of  the 
French  bombardment.  We  arrived  in  Paris  in  the  middle 
of  the  month  of  July,  and  landed  at  the  Hotel  de  Boston, 
Rue  Yivienne,  where  I  was  at  once  at  home  among  my  own 
countrymen.  By  the  aid  of  my  banker,  Mr.  Thomas  Mel 
ville,  I  obtained  a  place  in  the  household  of  Dubois,  after 
wards  Baron,  then  sole  Surgeon  of  the  Hospice  de  1'Ecole 
de  Medecine,  Rue  de  1'Ecole  de  Me'decine,  close  to  the 
School  of  Medicine.  This  was  a  very  fortunate  place  for 
me,  as  it  brought  me  into  very  intimate  relations  with  half 
a  dozen  students,  as  well  as  Dubois,  and  some  French 
gentlemen  of  his  acquaintance  ;  particularly  Bessieres,  aid-de 
camp  of  Murat  (who  was  afterwards  King  of  Naples),  and 
nephew  of  Marshal  Bessieres  ;  Pougueville,  and  the  savans 
who  had  been  in  Egypt  with  Bonaparte.  Both  these  gen 
tlemen  took  a  particular  fancy  to  me.  Bessieres  afterwards 
offered  to  carry  me  to  the  army,  if  I  desired  to  see  service. 
Pougueville  wrote  an  account  of  Greece,  and  instructed  me, 
for  his  own  amusement,  in  the  Italian  language.  He  had 
been  in  Greece  and  Egypt  with  Bonaparte,  and  spoke  Greek 
very  fluently.  He  gave  me,  among  other  things,  a  song  in 
modern  Greek,  which  he  used  to  sing ;  and  the  air,  as  well 
as  the  song  itself,  I  retain  after  the  lapse  of  fifty  years. 

Bonaparte  was  at  that  time  First  Consul.  Cambacer£s 
and  Le  Brim  were  also  consuls,  but  had  no  power.  At 
Dubois',  we  used  to  talk  freely  of  his  projects  ;  and  the 
opinion  of  some  of  them  was,  that  Bonaparte  would  soon  be 
Emperor  of  the  French  nation.  Dubois  was  of  a  different 
opinion.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  Bonaparte,  from  having 
been  with  him  in  Egypt.  He  said,  "  Bonaparte  has  all  the 
power  of  emperor  now  ;  and  he  has  too  much  sense  to  alarm 
the  people  by  assuming  the  title."  However,  in  four  years 


1799-1 802. j  PLAN    OF    STUDY.  57 

after,  he  was  actually  Emperor.  Dubois  voted  for  him  ;  was 
accoucheur  to  the  Empress;  Baron,  and  member  of  the  Le 
gion  of  Honor. 

My  plan  of  study  in  Paris  was  the  following :  Anatomy 
and  chemistry  I  determined  to  pursue  till  I  got  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  them.  The  foundation  of  chemical  knowledge 
I  had  laid  in  Edinburgh,  by  a  close  attention  to  a  six  months' 
course  of  the  best  chemical  lecturer  in  Europe,  —  Dr.  Hope. 
By  the  aid  of  Dubois,  I  got  admission  to  the  lectures  of 
Vauquelin,  who  was,  perhaps,  the  best  chemist  in  France, 
though  certainly  not  the  best  lecturer.  He  had  a  small 
private  class  of  about  forty,  composed  of  first-rate  men  of 
science  and  noblemen  from  all  parts  of  Europe.  I  usually 
sat  close  to  Vauquelin,  by  the  side  of  a  Russian  nobleman. 
This  course  was  two  hours  a  day,  every  other  day,  for  seven 
or  eight  months.  By  its  aid  I  was  able  to  go  into  practical 
and  experimental  chemistry,  as  soon  as  I  returned  to  Boston, 
in  the  Natural-Philosophy  Society,  which,  by  its  apparatus, 
the  zeal  of  its  members,  and  the  necessity  of  lecturing  on 
different  topics,  gave  me  a  very  satisfactory  acquaintance 
with  the  subject.  The  changes  and  improvements  in  chemi 
cal  science  which  took  place  when  I  was  closely  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  were  made  with  such  rapidity,  that  I 
was  unable  to  follow  them ;  and,  though  I  have  done  something 
to  supply  the  deficiency,  I  never  expect  to  do  it  effectually. 

As  to  anatomy,  I  began  it  anew  under  the  direction  of 
Ribes,  with  the  students  of  Dubois  only.  We  took  up  the 
Osteology  of  Gavard ;  which  is,  I  suppose,  the  best  that  has 
ever  been  written.  It  is  a  thick  octavo  volume.  This  I 
went  through  pretty  thoroughly ;  and  learned,  not  only  the 
anatomy  of  the  bones,  but  the  mode  of  describing  anatomi 
cal  subjects,  of  which  I  had  no  idea  before.  I  attended  also, 
under  the  same  roof,  —  the  old  Capuchin  Convent,  which 


58  MANNER    OF    LIVING.  [-ffiT.  21-24. 

was  the  seat  of  our  hospital  and  lectures,  —  a  course  of 
anatomy  by  Chaussier  and  Dupuytren.  The  former  was  the 
author  of  the  first  scientific  anatomical  nomenclature.  The 
latter  was  just  beginning  to  develop  his  talents.  I  recollect 
remarking  to  him,  that  he  spoke  with  great  facility,  and  that 
I  understood  him  better  than  any  other  lecturer.  He  re 
plied  with  a  modesty  quite  peculiar,  and  which  he  certainly 
got  wholly  rid  of  at  a  later  period  of  life. 

Dubois  gave  us  a  course  of  midwifery,  and  occasionally  a 
very  beautiful  lecture  on  anatomy.  Besides  these  lectures, 
I  attended  Dubois'  clinique  twice  a  week,  his  daily  visit  at 
the  hospital  in  which  we  lived,  and  the  medical  clinique  of 
Corvisart  at  the  Charitd.  After  the  winter  courses  were 
over,  I  attended  the  lectures  of  the  Jardin  des  Plantes.  At 
the  head  of  the  lecturers  there  was  Fourcrois,  —  a  great 
orator  as  well  as  chemist.  Next  to  him  was  Cuvier,  an 
elegant  lecturer,  and  destined  to  play  the  first  part  in  the 
science  of  comparative  anatomy  and  paleontology.  Des- 
fontaines  was  considered  the  best  lecturer  on  botany.  Be 
sides  these,  I  attended  some  scattered  lectures  of  Sabbatier, 
whose  anatomy  was  the  favorite  work  of  my  father.  At 
Dubois',  we  rose,  in  the  winter,  in  darkness,  and  scrambled 
to  the  hospital,  or  else  through  mud  and  dirt  to  La  Charitd. 
The  H6tel  Dieu  was  too  far  off,  and  at  that  time  in  too  bad 
a  condition,  to  be  attended  with  advantage.  At  about  nine, 
A.M.,  we  convened  in  the  salle  a  manger,  about  half  a  dozen 
of  us,  and,  without  sitting  down,  took,  from  certain  shelves 
placed  around  the  room,  our  breakfast,  consisting  of  bread, 
cream,  and  a  bottle  of  thin  Paris  wine.  Then  we  went  to  the 
lectures  ;  and  had  dinner  with  Dubois  and  his  family  at  four, 
P.M.  The  dinner  was  always,  first,  bouillon  ;  second,  bouillie  ; 
third,  some  kind  of  roast  meat  and  potatoes,  followed  by 
cheese.  In  the  evening,  we  had  some  wine,  and  bread  and 


1799-1802.]  FRENCH    STUDENTS.  59 

cheese,  if  we  wished  it.  In  the  season  of  grapes,  we  had 
this  fruit  instead  of  cheese  ;  never  tea,  coffee,  chocolate, 
or  any  thing  of  the  kind.  In  the  evening,  we  sometimes 
went  to  the  theatre  ;  but  not  more  than  two  or  three  times 
in  the  winter.  Once  I  went  to  a  grand  masquerade,  or  bal 
masque',  at  the  opera-house.  I  was  in  a  domino,  with  a  mask. 
While  there,  I  was  accosted  by  a  judge  in  flowing  red  robes. 
He  was  a  Frenchman,  but  pretended  to  be  an  old  acquaint 
ance  ;  and,  when  I  disclaimed  this,  he  related  a  number  of 
personal  incidents  which  he  pretended  had  occurred  in  the 
course  of  my  life.  And,  indeed,  he  was  perfectly  correct ; 
but  where  he  got  his  information,  I  never  learned.  I  had 
scarcely  got  rid  of  the  judge,  when  I  was  accosted  by  two 
French  ladies,  elegantly  dressed,  who  called  me  by  name, 
and  entered  into  conversation ;  from  which,  of  course,  I  did 
not  retreat.  I  waited  upon  these  ladies  round,  hoping  to 
discover  in  them  some  Parisian  acquaintances.  They  invited 
me  to  call  at  their  hotel  in  Faubourg  St.  Germain  ;  but,  soon 
after,  they  slipped  into  the  crowd,  and  I  never  saw  more  of 
them. 

The  French  students  with  whom  I  mingled  were  green 
from  the  French  Revolution.  They  were,  for  the  most  part, 
a  rude  and  vulgar  set  of  people.  Sometimes  they  behaved 
in  such  a  way  that  I  resented  it,  and  got  into  some  pretty 
serious  quarrels.  There  were  no  English  there,  there  being 
war  with  England  at  the  time  ;  and,  in  my  hospital,  no  Ame 
ricans  ;  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  look  for  aid  among  other 
foreigners.  The  principal  person  who  stood  by  me  in  these 
troubles  was  a  German  by  the  name  of  Souveraires,  of 
Vienna.  Ultimately,  the  French  students  learned  not  to 
meddle  with  us ;  and,  from  that  time,  we  went  on  more 
quietly  and  pleasantly. 

My  residence  in  the  family  of  Dubois  gave  me  a  good 
opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the  manners  and 


60  VOYAGE    HOME.  [JST.  21-24. 

feelings  of  the  French.  Conversation,  with  a  little  dancing, 
occupied  most  of  the  time.  Billiards  were  very  common  in 
private  families.  What  the  French  call  petits  jeux  were 
ingeniously  varied,  so  as  to  afford  an  inexhaustible  fund  of 
amusement.  Wine  and  tea  were  scarcely  ever  seen  in  private 
families  or  at  private  parties.  In  fact,  tea  was  unattainable 
for  the  most  part. 

The  French  resort,  however,  very  much  to  public  places, 
spectacles.  There  was  always  a  great  deal  going  on  which 
served  to  amuse  people  who  were  very  easily  amused.  I 
went  once  to  St.  Germain,  the  ancient  palace  of  the  kings  of 
France ;  once  to  Montmorenci,  where  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  the  amusements  of  the  country  people.  Near  the 
chateau  was  a  beautiful  grove  of  ten  or  a  dozen  acres,  in 
which  were  collected  all  the  peasantry,  male  and  female,  of 
the  village.  The  women  were  dressed  in  their  gayest  clothes, 
many  with  little  straw  hats  and  floating  ribbons,  others 
without  any  covering  for  the  head  ;  dancing,  singing,  making 
all  sorts  of  music,  playing  every  variety  of  games.  The 
women  bore  the  principal  part  in  these  entertainments. 

At  the  end  of  summer,  I  left  Paris  for  London,  on  the 
way  home.  I  passed  about  six  weeks  there,  collecting  books 
and  preparations  ;  and  embarked  for  home  on  the  17th  Octo 
ber,  1802.  The  only  ship  I  could  find  was  a  West-India 
sugar-ship,  called  the  "  Richard."  The  accommodations 
were  excessively  bad ;  and  the  passengers,  who  were  only 
ten  or  twelve  in  number,  very  much  crowded.  Among  them 
were  Colonel  Gibbs,  of  R.I.,  with  whom  I  was  very  much 
acquainted  ;  Consul  Lyman,  father  of  William  Lyman  ;  and 
Mr.  Yose,  afterwards  Dr.  Yose,  of  Liverpool,  who  wrote  the 
account  of  the  first  successful  operation  of  Sir  Astley  Cooper 
on  carotid  aneurism.  I  met  him  again  in  Liverpool  thirty- 
five  years  after. 

The  voyage  was  fifty  days  long, —  dark,  disagreeable  ;  the 


1799-1802.]  VOYAGE    HOME.  61 

ship  very  dirty ;  the  fare  very  poor ;  the  passengers  very 
dull  and  frightened.  A  few  of  us  passed  the  time  gayly, 
being  rather  amused  with  the  irritability  of  the  other  pas 
sengers.  We  had  one  exciting  incident.  About  noon,  one 
day,  we  espied  something  at  a  great  distance,  which  appeared 
like  a  floating  mast  projecting  from  the  water.  As  it  lay  out 
of  our  course,  the  captain  was  unwilling  to  lose  time  in 
looking  at  it.  We  prevailed  on  him,  however,  to  alter  his 
course  ;  and,  when  we  approached  the  object,  we  sent  a  boat 
to  it.  The  waves  were  so  high,  it  seemed  impossible  for  a 
boat  to  ride  safely  in  such  a  sea.  The  boat  was  absent  some 
time ;  and  not  till  it  returned  close  to  our  ship  could  we 
discover  that  it  had  taken  in  six  human  beings.  It  was  a 
small  vessel  from  New  Bedford,  bound  for  the  West  Indies, 
which  had  been  capsized  by  a  squall  in  the  night.  A  number 
of  people  were  drowned.  Six  saved  themselves  by  getting 
on  the  bowsprit,  which  was  the  part  projecting  from  the 
water.  They  lived  upon  some  bits  of  salt  pork,  which  they 
succeeded  in  cutting  out  of  the  forecastle ;  and,  when  it 
rained,  they  spread  a  blanket  to  catch  the  water,  which  they 
afterwards  sucked  from  it.  Some  of  them  stood  in  the 
water  all  the  time,  so  that  their  legs  were  ulcerated.  As 
soon  as  the  boat  touched  the  side  of  our  ship,  one  man 
mounted  over  the  backs  of  the  others  ;  and  presently  we  saw 
a  tall  negro  fall  down  upon  our  deck.  The  crew  was  a 
family  party  from  New  Bedford,  the  negro  being  their  ser 
vant  and  cook.  The  captain  was  quite  an  old  man,  with  two 
sons  and  one  or  two  nephews.  Our  passengers  were  soon 
occupied  in  getting  them  comfortable  clothes  ;  and  I  had  a 
regular  duty  afterwards  in  dressing  their  wounds.  One  of 
them  called  on  me  some  time  after  my  arrival  home,  and 
thanked  me.  We  arrived  in  New  York  on  the  5th  Decem 
ber,  1802 ;  and,  the  next  day,  I  took  passage  in  a  Newport 


62  COMMENCES    PRACTICE.  [^T.  25. 

packet,  which,  leaving  New  York  at  four  in  the  afternoon, 
sailed  rapidly  through  the  Sound,  and  reached  Newport  the 
next  morning ;  which  was  thought  very  great.  1  landed 
there,  and  made  a  visit  to  my  fellow-student  Senter ;  then 
went  aboard  a  Providence  packet,  which  brought  me  to 
Providence  at  dark.  There,  hiring  a  stage-coach,  we  pushed 
on  to  Boston,  and  reached  the  corner  of  School  Street,  where 
my  family  lived,  at  midnight.  I  soon  roused  them,  and 
heard  the  voice  of  my  old  friend  Dixwell  demanding  what  I 
wanted. 

The  next  day  was  a  jubilee  in  the  family;  and,  for  the 
few  following  days,  I  was  employed  in  making  visits.  I 
found  at  home  my  friend  William  Tudor,  who  had  been 
with  me  in  Europe  ;  and  he  introduced  me  to  his  family  and 
other  friends,  and  among  them  Mr.  Mason's  family,  with 
whom  I  soon  became  much  acquainted.  My  father  had 
suffered  from  an  attack  of  paralysis  some  time  before ;  and, 
though  he  had  got  over  it  pretty  well,  he  required  aid  in  his 
professional  duties.  He  was,  at  that  time,  probably  in 
greater  practice  than  any  other  physician  who  was  then, 
or  has  been,  in  Boston.  He  had  lately  had  with  him  Dr. 
Shurtleff,  who  had  got  the  run  of  his  practice,  and  took  off 
a  good  deal  of  it.  In  a  few  days  after  getting  home,  I  found 
it  necessary  to  begin  practice,  in  order  to  afford  some  relief 
to  my  father.  Although  well  acquainted  with  the  principles 
of  the  medical  art,  I  had  gone  very  little  into  the  details  of 
private  practice ;  my  time  having  been  necessarily  devoted 
to  the  elementary  and  scientific  parts  of  the  study  of  medi 
cine.  I  recollect  being  very  much  puzzled  on  being  sent  to 
a  child  in  a  fit,  to  determine  exactly  what  dose  of  ipecac 
to  give  as  an  emetic.  I  ultimately  fixed  on  thirteen  grains 
for  a  child  four  years  old.  My  father  was  quite  amused  that 
I  should  have  given  exactly  that  dose,  and  seemed  to  con- 


1803-1805.]  MARRIAGE.  63 

sider  it  rather  large  for  a  child  of  four  years.  My  father 
having  a  very  great  practice  in  midwifery,  many  of  these 
cases  fell  to  my  lot  among  poor  people.  But,  although  it 
was  rather  a  dirty  practice,  it  was  gratifying  to  me  to  be 
able  to  bestow  my  time  on  people  who  were  disposed  to 
receive  me  favorably.  In  the  course  of  that  summer,  I 
was  left  with  the  whole  practice,  —  medical,  surgical,  and 
obstetrical.  At  this  time,  I  underwent  many  severe  trials 
from  the  great  pressure,  the  want  of  the  habit  of  practice, 
and  the  unwillingness  of  many  persons  to  confide  in  so 
young  a  physician.  In  the  autumn,  I  undertook  the  dis 
sections  for  the  lectures  at  Cambridge.  In  this  I  was  quite 
at  home ;  but  the  daily  attendance  at  Cambridge,  and  the 
time  spent  in  dissections,  interfered  with  another  more 
important  business,  —  the  preparation  for  my  approaching 
marriage  with  Miss  Mason,  daughter  of  the  gentleman 
mentioned  above.  The  marriage  took  place  Nov.  IT,  1808, 
after  a  six  months'  engagement,  and  within  a  year  of 
my  return  from  Europe,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Mason,  which 
was  the  best  house  in  Boston,  and  occupied  the  space  where 
Mr.  Powell  Mason's  house  now  stands.  In  that  house  I 
passed  the  first  six  weeks  of  married  life,  and  then  went  to 
Tremont  Street,  to  the  house  belonging  to  Mr.  Samuel  Eliot, 
where  the  Pavilion  now  stands. 

At  that  period,  I  made  sometimes  fifty  visits  a  day. 

We  passed  the  first  year  in  Mr.  Eliot's  house,  where 
our  eldest  child  was  born,  which  lived  about  eighteen 
months.  It  died  of  teething  shortly  after  our  removal  to 
Park  Street,  which  was  in  October,  1805.  My  eldest  daugh 
ter,  afterwards  Mrs.  Lyman,  was  born  a  few  months  after 
our  removal ;  and  the  rest  of  my  children  successively  at 
intervals  of  about  two  years. 


64  POLITICS.  [./Ex.  24-27. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

POLITICS     OF      1802. 

DURING  this  exciting  period  in  the  political  world, 
the  subject  of  this  Memoir  took  an  earnest  part  in 
public  affairs. 

It  was  a  time  when  the  vital  interests  of  the  coun 
try  were  at  stake;  and  no  man  of  literary  abilities 
could  be  held  excused  from  using  his  energies  for  the 
welfare  of  his  country.  There  were  then  only  two 
parties ;  and  each  considered  the  other  as  traitors  to 
liberty.  The  Federalists  were  looked  upon  by  their 
adversaries  as  desirous  of  introducing  monarchical 
rule ;  while  their  adversaries  were  considered,  per 
haps  with  more  reason,  as  pursuing  measures  tending 
to  anarchy,  mob-rule,  a  reign  of  terror,  ending  more 
surely  in  despotism. 

The  younger  Dr.  "Warren,  like  his  father,  followed 
the  principles  of  Washington  and  Hamilton.  In 
England,  he  had  been  naturally  rather  inclined  to 
democratic,  or  at  least  to  anti-aristocratic,  principles ; 
but  in  France,  as  he  relates  in  his  letter  to  his  father, 
he  saw  sufficient  to  cure  him  of  any  ultra-liberal 
tendencies,  had  they  existed. 

In  his  Biographical  Notes,  he  gives  an  account  of 
his  political  engagements  as  follows :  — 


1802-1805.]  POLITICS.  65 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

In  1820,  I  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  State  Convention 
for  amending  the  Constitution,  and  sat  as  a  member  three 
months.  This  is  the  only  political  office  I  ever  held  ;  although 
I  was  very  much  concerned  in  the  politics  of  1798,  in  oppo 
sition  to  the  principles  of  the  French  Revolution.  I  wrote 
a  good  deal  on  politics,  and  succeeded,  with  others,  in  get 
ting  up  a  military  spirit ;  in  consequence  of  which,  various 
new  military  companies  were  formed,  particularly  the  Boston 
Light  Infantry,  of  which  I  was  an  officer. 

After  returning  from  Europe  in  1802, 1  joined  the  Cadet 
Company,  and  officiated  as  a  private ;  was  chosen  surgeon, 
and  continue  so  to  the  present  time  (1849),  having  held  the 
office  about  forty  years. 

The  politics  of  the  country,  after  the  time  of  General 
Washington,  assumed  a  character  of  which  nobody  of  the 
present  day  can  form  an  adequate  notion.  The  general 
impression  among  the  educated  part  of  society  was,  that  a 
certain  set  of  men  were  desirous  of  translating  the  French 
Revolution  to  this  country.  Of  course,  with  it  was  to  come 
the  guillotine,  the  abolition  of  religious  worship,  and  proba 
bly  also  atheism.  The  Federal  party,  though  in  the  mino 
rity,  were  powerful  in  talent,  property,  and  determination. 
They  breasted  the  popular  current ;  and  finally  succeeded 
in  diverting  its  course,  although  Federalism  died  in  the 
struggle. 

Among  the  events  of  the  day,  in  which  I  had  some  con 
cern,  was  the  shooting  of  Austin  by  Selfridge,  in  State 
Street,  at  mid-day.  Austin,  the  father,  was  editor  of  the 
principal  Jacobin  paper,  the  "  Independent  Chronicle ; " 
which,  singularly  enough,  ultimately  merged  in  a  Whig 

9 


66  SELFRIDGE    AND    AUSTIN.  [vEx.  24-27. 

paper.*  It  was  the  vehicle  of  abuse  and  denunciation.  On 
one  occasion,  I  was  denounced  myself ;  and,  without  con 
sulting  any  one,  went  armed  to  the  "  Chronicle  "  office  to 
demand  the  name  of  the  author.  The  name  I  could  not 
obtain  ;  but  was  never  assailed  afterwards  in  that  paper. 
On  the  other  side,  also,  personal  recriminations  were  some 
times  severe  ;  and  many  were  directed  particularly  against 
Mr.  Benjamin  Austin,  the  editor  above  alluded  to.  One  of 
these,  which  made  heavy  charges  against  him,  was  thought 
or  known  to  proceed  from  Thomas  0.  Selfridge,  a  lawyer,  a 
college  classmate  of  mine,  a  person  of  talents,  but  not  very 
much  liked.  Mr.  Austin  had  a  son  who  had  just  graduated 
at  Cambridge,  —  a  courageous  young  man,  who  did  not 
understand  that  his  father  could  not  have  the  privilege  of 
insulting  other  men,  without  drawing  on  himself  an  equiva 
lent  abuse.  Young  Austin,  irritated  by  the  sarcasms  poured 
on  his  father  by  Selfridge  in  the  article  alluded  to,  openly 
declared  that  he  should  punish  the  author  personally  on  the 
first  opportunity.  Selfridge,  hearing  of  this  threat,  armed 
himself  to  repel  the  attack.  The  facts  were  so  well  known, 
that  public  expectation  was  excited  ;  and  a  great  number  of 
people  were  gathered  together  in  State  Street  to  gratify 
their  curiosity  about  the  expected  rencontre,  and  take  part,  if 
necessary,  in  a  general  affray.  At  twelve  o'clock,  Selfridge 
was  on  Change ;  and,  soon  after,  young  Austin  came  down 
with  a  good-sized  stick,  sought  out  Selfridge,  and,  as  soon  as 
he  discovered  him,  levelled  a  blow  at  his  head.  At  the  same 
moment,  Selfridge  drew  a  pistol  from  his  pocket,  fired,  and 
Austin  fell  dead.  Selfridge  had  received  a  severe  contusion 
on  the  forehead ;  but,  whether  before  or  after  the  shot,  no 
one  of  the  many  present  could  ever  satisfactorily  testify. 
Selfridge  soon  gave  himself  up  for  trial.  I  was  called  to 


*  The  Boston  Daily  Advertiser. 


1802-1805.]  A    MOB.  67 

examine  his  wound,  and  afterwards  to  give  testimony  at  the 
trial.  Selfridge  was  ultimately  acquitted  ;  and  my  testimony 
was  quite  important  in  the  case  ;  which  led  him  to  look  upon 
me  as  one  of  his  special  advocates,  —  an  honor  which  I  did 
not  particularly  covet.  The  Democratic,  or,  as  it  was  then 
called,  the  Jacobin  or  Antifederal  party,  stimulated  by  the 
violent  writings  of  Mr.  Austin  the  elder,  rose  in  mobs,  made 
processions  through  the  streets,  hung  Selfridge  in  effigy, 
and,  it  was  thought,  would  ultimately  hang  him  in  person. 
Notice  was  given  that  a  great  mob  would  be  formed  in 
Charlestown  on  a  certain  evening,  and,  marching  through 
the  North  End,  would  be  joined  by  a  great  body  from  that 
quarter,  and  thence  proceed  to  attack  the  house  which  Sel 
fridge  lived  in,  —  a  boarding-house,  situated  in  Howard 
Street,  where  the  so-called  Howard  Athenaeum  now  stands. 
Selfridge,  much  alarmed,  sent  round  to  his  friends  to  request 
their  aid  in  the  protection  of  his  residence  and  person.  I 
went  there,  and  found  only  five  gentlemen  besides  the  people 
in  the  house.  The  mob  came,  as  was  expected,  through 
Hanover  Street ;  and,  when  their  appearance  became  very 
threatening,  I  proceeded  to  the  High  Sheriff,  Mr.  Allen,  to 
demand  a  posse  of  officers  to  protect  the  house.  He,  being 
of  a  timid  character,  declined  interposing.  I  returned  to  the 
boarding-house,  and  arranged  with  the  other  gentlemen,  that 
all  the  male  servants  of  the  house,  five  or  six  in  number, 
should,  when  the  mob  approached,  be  stationed  on  the  steps 
of  the  door,  with  lights.  By  and  by,  they  came.  At  their 
head  was  a  bad-looking  man,  with  a  paper-cap  on  his  head, 
and  a  club  in  his  hand.  As  soon  as  he  came  in  front  of  the 
door,  one  of  the  gentlemen  (Mr.  Tuttle),  stepping  out,  seized 
him  by  the  collar,  on  one  side  ;  I.  did  the  same  on  the  other ; 
and,  without  ceremony,  dragged  him  into  the  house,  secured 
the  doors,  and  left  the  mob  without  their  leader.  They  soon 


68  A    DUEL.  [JE'f.  24-27. 

dispersed  ;  while  we,  on  our  part,  sent  for  officers  to  secure 
our  victim,  had  him  lodged  in  jail  for  the  night,  and  got 
home  ourselves  without  broken  heads.  After  this,  the 
excitement  gradually  calmed,  and  there  were  no  more  mobs. 
Selfridge  lived  a  number  of  years,  but  was  never  supported 
or  encouraged  by  the  Federal  party ;  and  he  died  consider 
ing  himself  a  sort  of  victim  to  the  cause  he  had  undertaken 
to  defend. 

Another  event  in  which  I  was  engaged  occurred  some 
time  after.  Mr.  William  Austin,  of  Charlestown,  a  nephew 
of  the  editor,  wrote  a  severe  political  personal  article  against 
General  Eliot,  commanding-officer  of  the  military  in  this 
district,  brother-in-law  of  Colonel  T.  H.  Perkins,  and  always 
forward  in  the  support  of  Federal  principles.  The  general, 
meeting  with  Mr.  Austin,  struck  him  ;  and  a  contest  ensued, 
in  which  it  was  thought  Austin  had  the  advantage.  The 
son  of  General  Eliot,  a  spirited  young  man  of  two  or  three 
and  twenty,  sent  a  challenge  to  Mr.  Austin  ;  which  was 
accepted,  and  a  meeting  was  arranged  to  take  place  on  the 
borders  of  Rhode  Island.  I  was  consulted  about  these  pro 
ceedings,  and  finally  requested  to  go  out  as  surgeon  to  Mr. 
Eliot.  Our  party  reached  Providence  in  the  evening,  had  a 
pleasant  supper,  and  the  next  morning,  at  four,  proceeded  to  a 
wood  lying  near  the  boundary  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Henry 
Sargent  was  second  to  Mr.  Eliot,  and  Mr.  Charles  P.  Simmer 
to  Mr.  Austin.  The  parties  were  placed  at  twelve  paces 
distant,  fired  together,  and  Austin  was  wounded  in  the 
lower  jaw.  He  said,  however,  he  was  ready  for  another 
shot.  They  again  took  post ;  and,  on  the  second  fire,  Austin 
was  again  wounded  in  the  thigh.  Both  of  the  shots  took 
full  effect ;  but  owing  to  the  precaution  of  Mr.  Sargent,  who 
made  the  charge  rather  light,  from  the  apprehension  that 
Eliot,  who  was  unaccustomed  to  firing,  would  fire  too  high, 


1802-1805.]  POLITICS.  69 

neither  of  the  balls  penetrated  deep ;  and  thus  another 
catastrophe  was  happily  averted.  After  the  affair  was  over, 
we  got  into  our  carriages,  and  drove  to  the  first  tavern  in 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  on  the  way  homeward.  Here  I 
dressed  the  wounds  of  Austin,  and  he  recovered  without 
any  subsequent  inconvenience.  I  was  blamed  by  a  few 
persons  for  taking  any  part  in  such  an  affair ;  but  the  great 
mass  of  people  —  at  least,  those  whom  I  was  accustomed  to 
associate  with  —  seemed  to  consider  it  right  and  necessary 
under  the  circumstances  of  the  times.  In  the  present  state 
of  public  opinion,  such  a  procedure  would  be  thought  very 
objectionable. 

The  savage  character  of  political  feeling  gradually  ex 
pired  with  the  destruction  of  Robespierre  and  his  ferocious 
accomplices.  The  Federalists,  finding  their  property  and 
persons  were  not  to  be  assailed,  became  languid  in  their 
efforts  to  overcome  the  opposite  party ;  and  ultimately,  in 
the  time  of  President  Jackson,  the  two  parties  became  fused 
with  each  other.  The  old  Democrats  were  neglected  by 
General  Jackson  ;  many  of  the  Federalists  became  Jackson- 
ites  ;  and,  the  name  of  "  Federalist "  becoming  extinct,  that 
of  "Whig"  was  substituted. 

Wholly  occupied  by  professional  pursuits,  I  took  no  other 
part  in  the  political  squabbles  of  the  day  than  to  give  my 
vote,  and  sometimes  a  little  money,  for  the  support  of  what 
I  considered  good  government,  and  an  onward  movement 
for  the  happiness  of  the  people  and  the  prosperity  of  the 
country.  I  always  opposed  the  Antislavery  movement,  so 
far  as  I  judged  it  contrary  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the 
happiness  of  the  negro  population.  On  one  occasion,  I  was 
the  Yice-President  in  a  conservative  meeting  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  which  was  called  to  express  the  public  opinion  in  this 
town  on  the  violent  proceedings  of  some  antislavery  persons. 


70  POLITICS.  [JET.  24-27. 

This  was  done,  however,  without  any  reference  to  opinions 
and  proceedings  of  the  two  great  political  parties.* 

The  Federal  party  were  always  strenuous  supporters  of 
the  central  power  of  the  United-States  Government,  in  oppo 
sition  to  the  pretensions  of  the  State  Governments.  In  this 
sentiment  I  always  thoroughly  concurred,  from  a  belief  that 
the  democratic  character  of  our  institutions  would  always 
prevent  any  excessive  increase  of  power  in  the  central  admi 
nistration,  and  that  the  people  would  always  support  the 
State  Governments  in  opposition  to  the  General  Government. 
Of  course,  the  great  danger  of  our  political  institutions 
would  lie  from  the  assumption  of  authority  by  the  State 
Government,  in  any  case  where  their  particular  interest 
might  seem  to  conflict  with  the  general  interest ;  and  that 
thus  the  Union  would  ultimately  be  broken.  Such  a  state 
of  things  has  actually  arisen,  in  the  attempt  of  South  Caro 
lina  to  nullify  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  This  was 
successfully  opposed  by  President  Jackson ;  but,  had  a 
weaker  man  been  in  the  government,  the  State  would  very 
likely  have  made  a  successful  opposition.  This  example 
will  be  followed  by  others. 

At  a  dinner  at  Mr.  Josiah  Quincy,  jun.'s,  which  took 
place  some  years  after  the  administration  of  General  Jack 
son,  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  the  first  character  being 
present,  the  Honorable  Judge  Story,  in  an  eloquent  manner, 
assailed  the  administration  of  General  Jackson,  particularly 
his  disposition  to  oppose  the  acts  of  the  other  branches  of  the 
government,  and  his  vetoing  certain  bills ;  also  his  strenu 
ous  determination  to  have  a  metallic  .currency. 


*  On  a  subsequent  occasion,  Dr.  Warren  presided  at  the  great  Union  meeting, 
in  Faneuil  Hall,  in  1850,  called  to  express  the  opinions  of  all  parties  opposed  to  the 
disunion  of  the  States.  His  speech  on  this  occasion  is  given  in  another  place. 


1802-1805.]  POLITICS.  71 

After  the  honorable  judge  had  concluded  his  remarks, 
which  were  very  severe,  I  ventured  to  make  a  reply,  and  to 
show  —  what  he  himself  must  allow  —  that  the  great  dan 
ger  in  our  political  condition  arose  from  the  opposition  of 
the  States  to  the  General  Government ;  that  this  danger  had 
been  increased  by  the  introduction  of  the  democratic  princi 
ple,  so  called  (but,  in  reality,  an  aristocratic  principle)  ;  of 
the  non-sociability  of  the  States,  in  consequence  of  which  an 
individual  can  have  no  redress,  in  cases  of  oppression,  from  a 
State  Government.  The  doctrine  had  been  uniformly  main 
tained  by  the  most  eminent  Federalist  statesmen,  that  there 
could  be  no  possible  danger,  under  our  government,  of  a 
tyrannical  and  arbritrary  use  of  power  by  the  United-States 
Executive,  to  an  oppressive  extent ;  that  General  Jackson's 
determination  to  enforce  a  specie-currency,  however  incon 
venient  it  might  be  temporarily,  was  a  measure  which  history 
would  recall  as  a  judicious  and  necessary  proceeding. 

The  judge  replied  to  my  remarks,  of  course ;  and  all 
Whig  company,  being  opposed  to  General  Jackson,  assented 
to  the  judge's  remarks.  On  this  I  said,  in  conclusion,  that 
I  was  sorry  to  find  that  all  the  old  Federalists  present  had 
adopted  Democratic  principles,  and  I  alone  remained  to 
vindicate  the  good  old  Federal  party.  This  brought  on  a 
laugh,  and  the  conversation  subsided. 


72  NATURAL-PHILOSOPHY    SOCIETY.  [>ET.  25. 


CHAPTEE   VII. 

LITERARY   AND    SCIENTIFIC    PURSUITS. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  his  professional  and  political  labors, 
Dr.  Warren  found  time  to  engage  in  other  pursuits, 
of  a  literary  and  scientific  nature.  Soon  after  his 
return  from  Europe,  he  was  invited  to  become  a  mem 
ber  of  a  private  society  for  the  study  of  natural  phi 
losophy,  founded  in  1801  by  Dr.  Kirkland,  Judge 
Davis,  and  others.  The  members  lectured  in  turn ; 
and  it  must  doubtless  have  been  of  great  advantage 
both  to  Dr.  Warren  and  Dr.  Jackson,  who  prepared 
the  chemical  lectures,  in  aiding  to  give  them  a  facility 
in  lecturing. 

Some  account  of  this  society,  which  is  frequently 
referred  to  in  the  Biographical  Notes,  may  be  consi 
dered  interesting. 

It  was  to  be  confined  to  ten  members ;  the  number 
not  to  be  increased  without  the  consent  of  the  whole. 
These  members  consisted  of  John  Davis,  William 
Emerson,  Nathan  Frazier,  James  Jackson,  John  Snel- 
ling  Popkin  (then  pastor  of  the  church  in  Federal 
Street),  Josiah  Quincy,  Timothy  Williams,  John 
Quincy  Adams,  and  John  Lowell.  To  these  were 
added,  the  subsequent  year,  John  C.  Warren  and 
John  C.  Howard. 


1803.]  NATURAL-PHILOSOPHY    SOCIETY.  73 

A  large  sum  was  liberally  raised  for  the  purchase 
of  apparatus  and  books.  By  the  regulations,  some 
book  on  natural  philosophy  was  to  be  selected,  from 
which  a  portion  was  read  at  every  meeting ;  and  this 
was  followed  by  discussion.  The  members  also  deli 
vered  lectures  upon  such  subjects  as  each  deemed  best 
suited  to  his  taste  or  his  powers.  It  was  voted  that 
one  of  the  members  should  give  a  lecture  of  an  hour 
long  at  each  meeting  of  the  society. 

March  24,  1802.  —"The  Committee  met,  and  pro 
ceeded,  according  to  law,  to  make  choice  of  lecturers 
for  the  ensuing  year.  The  following  gentlemen  were 
appointed ;  viz.,  Judge  Davis,  Dr.  Kirkland,  Dr. 
Jackson,  Dr.  Howard,  Mr.  Channing,  Mr.  Higginson, 
John  C.  Warren. 

"  Dr.  Kirkland  signified  his  acceptance  of  the  office 
of  lecturer,  and  agreed  to  give  six  lectures  on  astro 
nomy.  Judge  Davis  agreed  to  lecture  on  some  branch 
of  natural  history,  —  probably  botany.  Mr.  Polluck 
agreed  to  lecture  on  entomology,  unless  the  society 
should  prefer  experimental  philosophy.  Mr.  Polluck 
engaged  for  five  lectures.  Dr.  Jackson  accepted  the 
office  of  lecturer,  and  engaged  to  treat  on  the  follow 
ing  subjects  in  chemistry ;  viz.,  those  included  in  the 
seventeen  first  articles  of  Henry's  "  Epitome  of  Che 
mistry,"  on  which  he  agreed  to  give  ten  lectures  in 
the  winter  course.  Dr.  Warren  engaged  to  give  ten 
lectures  on  that  branch  of  natural  history  composed 
of  human  and  comparative  anatomy  and  physiology. 

"  Mr.  Higginson  accepted  the  office  of  lecturer,  and 

10 


74  NATURAL-PHILOSOPHY    SOCIETY.  [^Ex.  25. 

engaged  to  give  five  lectures  on  mechanics,  in  the 
summer  course."  The  President  agreed  to  give  ten 
lectures  on  botany.  Dr.  Howard  agreed  to  give  five 
lectures  on  chemistry. 

In  this  society,  Dr.  Warren  took  for  one  of  his 
subjects  an  analysis  of  the  water  of  Boston.  He 
found  that  such  an  analysis  had  been  already  at 
tempted  by  Monsieur  Feron,  a  friend  of  Dr.  John 
Warren,  who  belonged  to  the  French  army  or  navy. 
He  bestowed  much  time  on  this  subject;  and  pre 
sented  to  the  society,  in  so  striking  a  light,  the 
impurities  of  their  well-water,  as  to  make  a  perma 
nent  impression  upon  the  minds  of  some  of  them. 
For  himself,  he  says,  he  never  ceased  to  think  on  the 
subject,  and  to  speak  of  it  as  opportunity  presented. 
About  the  year  1820,  he  procured  a  petition  to  the 
Legislature  for  bringing  in  water,  which  was  signed 
by  the  principal  part  of  the  physicians  in  Boston. 
Mr.  Patrick  T.  Jackson  offered  at  that  time  to  bring 
in  the  water  by  a  company  formed  by  himself,  provid 
ed  the  City  Government  would  give  him  the  manage 
ment  and  the  profits  of  it.  They  refused;  and  the 
citizens  were  destined  to  wait  thirty  years  longer  for 
this  copious  source  of  health  and  comfort.  Dr. 
Warren  attended  various  meetings  on  this  subject; 
wrote  a  number  of  articles ;  was  once  before  a  Com 
mittee  of  the  Legislature ;  and  finally  attended  the 
celebration  of  the  commencement  of  the  works  at 
Lake  Cochituate,  and  its  consummation  in  Boston  on 
the  25th  of  October,  1848. 


1803.]  MONTHLY    ANTHOLOGY    CLUB.  75 

This  society  continued  in  existence  until  July  or 
August,  1807 ;  when  the  principal  part  of  the  appa 
ratus  was  sold  to  the  Boston  Athenaeum,  and  the 
proceeds  divided  among  the  members.  The  greater 
part  of  the  chemical  apparatus  was  taken  by  Dr. 
Gorham,  a  newly  elected  member :  other  members 
took  the  remaining  articles. 

Among  other  objects  of  attention  in  this  society 
was  the  observation  of  the  great  eclipse,  in  1806,  by 
Drs.  Jackson  and  Warren. 

In  1803,  also,  Dr,  Warren  became  a  member  of  the 
Monthly  Anthology  Club,  —  a  society  of  more  public 
and  general  utility,  and  more  permanent  in  its  results, 
than  the  former.  The  "Monthly  Anthology"  was 
commenced  and  conducted  by.Phineas  Adams  for  six 
months,  but  unsuccessfully,  as  far  as  profit  went. 
Messrs.  Munroe  and  Francis,  the  well-known  publish 
ers,  applied  to  Rev.  William  Emerson;  by  whose 
exertions  the  ablest  literary  men  in  Boston  were 
engaged  in  its  support,  and  formed  themselves  into  a 
society.  Among  its  members  were  the  highly  gifted 
Buckminster,  whose  early  death  was  so  much  la 
mented  ;  William  Smith  Shaw,  who  took  so  ardent  an 
interest  in  the  formation  and  progress  of  the  Athe 
naeum,  and  was  for  many  years  Librarian ;  Dr.  Kirk- 
land,  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Thacher,  Peter  C.  Thacher, 
and  others. 

The  work  was  conducted  with  great  ability  for  six 
years,  and  ten  volumes  were  published.  As  justly 
said  by  President  Quincy,  it  "  may  be  considered  as  a 


76  BOSTON    ATHENJEUM.  Mr.  25,  26. 

true  revival  of  polite  learning  in  this  country,  after 
that  decay  and  neglect  which  resulted  from  the  dis 
tractions  of  the  Revolutionary  war ;  and  as  forming 
an  epoch  in  the  intellectual  history  of  the  United 
States." 

It  was  much  to  the  honor  of  this  small  body  of  men, 
originally  fourteen,  that  they  did  not  pause  in  their 
labors,  or  content  themselves  with  their  magazine 
alone.  A  reading-room  was  required  for  the  wants 
of  the  literary  public ;  and  this  was  soon  instituted  by 
their  exertions.  To  this  was  subsequently  added  a 
library,  and  liberal  donations  from  the  members. 
Their  earnest  labors  caused  it  to  increase  rapidly. 
There  were  six  good  circulating  libraries  in  Boston. 
The  Boston  Library  had  been  established  in  1794; 
and  it  probably  was  supposed  it  would  answer  the  full 
purpose  of  a  circulating  library  for  the  time.  The 
original  object  of  the  Anthology  Club,  therefore,  was 
to  establish  a  reading-room,  and  library  of  reference. 
From  this  beginning  arose  the  Boston  Athenseum. 
It  may  be  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  original  found 
ers  of  the  Athenaeum  were  content  with  a  plain 
building  of  the  least  possible  pretensions ;  centrally 
situated,  indeed,  where  the  Savings  Bank  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  afterwards  stood.  It  was  intended  for 
the  use  and  resort  of  studious  literary  men,  and  the 
kernel  only  was  considered  of  value:  little  regard 
was  paid  to  the  shell.  Books  were  not  allowed  to 
circulate  until  1826. 

Dr.  Warren  was   co-editor  of  the   "  Anthology ;  " 


1803-1806.]  MEDICAL    SOCIETY.  77 

but  his  increasing  professional  occupations  seem  to 
have  prevented  his  taking  an  active  part  in  the  affairs 
of  the  Athenaeum.  In  fact,  owing  to  the  death  of 
some  members,  and  the  increasing  business  occupa 
tions  of  others,  its  management  was  left  pretty  much 
for  many  years  to  Mr.  Shaw,  to  whose  zeal  and  labors 
this  institution  is  very  greatly  indebted,  and  to  whom 
President  Quincy  has  done  justice  in  his  History  of  the 
Boston  Athenaeum. 

About  this  time,  also,  Dr.  Warren  and  Dr.  Jackson 
formed  a  private  medical  society  for  mutual  improve 
ment,  in  conjunction  with  Drs.  Dixwell,  Coffin,  Bui- 
lard,  Shattuck,  and  Howard.  This  society  met  once 
a  week,  on  Thursday  afternoon ;  medical  papers  were 
read,  and  medical  discussions  took  place.  This  society 
continued  five  or  six  years ;  and  the  members  remained 
together  until  death  removed  all  in  succession,  except 
Drs.  Jackson  and  Warren.  From  this  society,  and 
principally  from  the  exertions  of  the  two  last  men 
tioned,  sprang  the  Boston  Medical  Library,  —  a  very 
useful  institution,  but  finally  absorbed  by  the  Athe 
naeum. 

This  society  met  once  a  week  at  each  other's  houses 
successively.  Each,  in  turn,  produced  a  medical  pa 
per,  which  was  discussed  by  the  members.  They 
published  various  medical  articles.  A  certain  physi 
cian  having  become  extremely  obnoxious  to  the 
medical  profession  by  his  proceedings  and  writings 
in  regard  to  various  men  and  various  subjects,  and 
who  had  been  considered  uniformly  successful  in  his 


78  FRIDAY-EVENING    SOCIETY.  [JET.  28. 

numerous  newspaper  controversies,  they  determined 
to  follow  him,  notwithstanding  his  great  tact  in  this 
course.  They  accordingly  met  him  in  the  newspapers, 
and  turned  upon  him  his  own  weapon,  —  ridicule  ;  by 
which  they  finally  drove  him  out  of  the  field.  Their 
articles  were  published  in  the  "  Repertory,"  edited  by 
Dr.  Park,  which  afterwards  merged  in  the  "  Daily 
Advertiser."  Dr.  Warren  wrote  an  article  on  the 
cow-pock,  or  vaccine,  intended  to  oppose  and  ridicule 
the  appellation  "  kine-pock,"  which  Dr.  pro 
posed  to  substitute  for  that  of  "  cow-pock,"  the  Eng 
lish  name.  Dr.  Warren  endeavored  to  show  how 
ridiculous  it  was  for  a  person  in  this  country  to  pre 
tend  to  alter  a  name  given  by  its  founder,  then  in 
Europe ;  to  show  also  the  absurdity  of  substituting  a 
plural  number  for  a  singular:  and  that  the  proper 
nomenclature  was  easily  derivable  from  the  Latin 
name  of  cow ;  viz.,  vacca.  Then  the  fluid  inoculated 
would  be  vaccine  fluid,  the  disease  vaccine,  the  verb  to 
vaccinate,  and  the  inoculation  itself  a  vaccination. 

From  that  time,  Dr. 's  "  kine-pock  "  began  to 

fall  into  neglect,  was  soon  thrown  out  by  medical  men, 
and  is  now  altogether  disused,  except  by  a  few  persons 
in  New  England. 

The  Improvement  Society  lasted  a  number  of  years. 
Dr.  Warren  wrote  many  papers  during  its  existence, 
and  particularly  one  on  the  cholera  of  infants,  with 
dissections. 

About  1806,  a  Friday-evening  Society  was  formed, 
having  a  social  character ;  that  is,  having  a  supper. 


1806.]  AMERICAN    ACADEMY.  79 

The  members  read,  in  turn,  some  article  on  a  scientific 
subject.  There  were  about  eight  members  of  this 
society,  among  whom  were  Colonel  George  Gibbes ; 
President  Holley ;  Dr.  James  Jackson ;  Rev.  Joseph  S. 
Buckminster,  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  Antho 
logy  Club ;  the  Honorable  Benjamin  Vaughan,  of 

Hallowell ;  a  Portuguese  philosopher,  Don ;  and 

Francis  C.  Gray.  This  society  lasted  five  or  six  years. 
Strangers  were  constantly  in  the  habit  of  attending  the 
meetings. 

When  the  "  New-England  Medical  Journal "  was 
set  on  foot,  a  weekly  meeting,  composed  of  Drs.  Jack 
son,  Channing,  Bigelow,  Gorham,  and  Warren,  was 
formed ;  to  which  were  ultimately  added  Dr.  George 
Hayward  and  Dr.  John  Ware.  Papers  were  brought 
forward,  read,  and  criticized,  at  this  meeting;  and 
measures  for  carrying  on  and  improving  the  "  Jour 
nal"  were  discussed  and  adopted. 

About  this  time,  an  effort  was  made  to  get  up 
meetings  of  the  American  Academy  for  scientific 
discussions  ;  the  meetings  having  till  that  time  had 
merely  a  business  character.  A  number  of  meetings 
were  held,  some  of  them  in  a  room  in  the  State 
House.  But  they  ultimately  fell  through,  and  were 
not  renewed  till  about  the  year  1845,  since  which 
they  have  met  for  social  and  conversational  purposes 
monthly  during  the  winter. 

When  Dr.  Wistar  was  in  Boston,  about  the  year 
1806,  he  came  to  the  Friday-evening  Club  at  Dr. 
Warren's.  He  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  pro- 


80  AMERICAN    ACADEMY.  [JE>T.  28. 

ceedings,  that,  on  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  he  set 
out  to  form  a  similar  society.  This  has  continued 
until  the  present  time ;  but  has  now  lost  the  scientific 
part  of  the  arrangement,  and  is  a  social  meeting, 
comprising  very  large  numbers  of  the  most  distin 
guished  individuals. 


1806.]  MEDICAL    SOCIETY.  81 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MASSACHUSETTS   MEDICAL    SOCIETY. 

THE  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  was  established  in 
1781,  with  power  to  elect  officers,  examine  and  license 
candidates  for  practice,  hold  estate,  and  perform  all 
the  other  actions,  and  possess  the  liabilities,  of  a  body 
corporate,  for  ever. 

In  the  following  year,  after  several  preparatory 
meetings,  by-laws  were  enacted ;  a  common  seal  was 
chosen ;  and  Edward  Augustus  Holyoke,  who  died  in 
1829,  at  the  age  of  one  hundred,  was  chosen  Presi 
dent.  The  society,  at  first  limited  to  the  number  of 
seventy,  was  afterwards  enlarged,  so  as  to  embrace,  if 
they  desired,  all  respectable  practitioners  in  the  State. 
The  objects  of  the  society  were  to  regulate  the  prac 
tice  of  medicine  in  the  Commonwealth,  elevate  the 
character  of  the  profession,  and  raise  the  standard  of 
medical  education. 

They  published  a  collection  of  papers,  forming  one 
number,  in  the  year  1790;  but  want  of  funds  pre 
vented  their  proceeding  with  further  publications, 
until  the  energy  of  several  newly  added  members  gave 
a  fresh  impulse  some  thirteen  or  sixteen  years  after. 
Dr.  Warren  was  admitted  into  the  Medical  Society 

11 


82  MEDICAL    SOCIETY.  [vET.  28. 

in  1803,  and  immediately  began  to  interest  himself 
earnestly  in  its  welfare  ;  he  and  Dr.  Jackson  stimu 
lating  the  members  to  write,  and  undertaking  the 
labor  of  publication. 

In  June,  1806,  he  communicated  to  this  society  a 
history  of  a  wound  of  the  femoral  artery,  containing 
some  particulars  of  much  interest. 

A  lad  of  fourteen,  attempting  to  leap  a  fence,  fell 
upon  the  pickets  ;  one  of  which,  half  an  inch  in 
thickness,  entered  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh.  The 
blood  flowed  in  a  torrent,  and  he  became  insensible. 
He  was  revived  by  stimulating  applications. 

When  seen  by  Drs.  John  and  J.  C.  Warren,  the 
next  day,  the  hemorrhage  had  not  returned.  Arrange 
ments  were  made  to  arrest  it  on  the  instant,  if  it  should 
return.  He  seemed  for  some  days  to  be  going  on  w^ell ; 
but,  on  the  twenty-ninth  (the  fifteenth  day  after  the 
accident),  the  blood  suddenly  burst  out  while  he  lay 
in  bed.  In  two  minutes  the  compress  was  applied, 
and  the  bleeding  arrested.  He  lost  about  a  pint  of 
blood.  It  being  determined  to  tie  the  artery,  com 
pression  was  removed  ;  but,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  the 
artery  did  not  bleed.  On  the  next  day,  many  bleed 
ings  occurred,  but  were  suppressed  by  the  attendants. 
It  was  resolved  to  tie  the  femoral  artery  in  the  groin. 
About  twelve  ounces  of  blood  were  lost  during  the 
operation. 

On  the  fifth  day,  a  small  gangrenous  spot  appeared  ; 
and,  the  day  following,  there  was  extensive  separation 
of  the  cuticle,  partial  coldness  of  the  limb,  small 


1806.]  CASE    OF    HERNIA.  83 

pulse,  &c.  On  the  seventh  day  after  the  operation, 
there  was  fresh  hemorrhage,  which  recurred  at  inter 
vals  ;  and,  in  the  evening,  he  died. 

Dr.  Warren  draws  three  inferences  from  the  case : 
1.  That  the  patient  might  have  been  saved,  if  the 
operation  had  been  resorted  to  before  the  repeated 
hemorrhages  had  taken  place. 

2.  That  obstruction  to  the  femoral  artery,  especially 
above  the  profunda,  cannot  always  be  produced  with 
out  danger  to  the  limb. 

3.  When  nature  has  been  left  to  operate  the  cure, 
and  the  hemorrhage  is  suspended,  it  will  be  a  long 
time  before  the  patient  can  be  considered  safe. 

This  history  is  valuable,  also,  as  showing  how  far 
the  efforts  of  nature  will  sometimes  go  in  arresting 
dangerous  hemorrhage.  The  patient  in  this  case, 
though  confined  to  his  bed,  was  restless  and  turbulent  ; 
and  neither  he  nor  his  parents  could  be  made  to  real 
ize  his  danger.  It  is  probable,  that,  could  perfect 
stillness  have  been  enforced,  a  cure  might  have  been 
effected  by  nature.  Opium  was  directed,  to  keep  him 
quiet  for  the  operation.  This  was  the  first  case  of 
ligature  of  a  large  artery,  after  an  accident,  per 
formed  here. 

In  the  following  year  (1807),  he  contributed  an 
account  of  a  case  of  strangulated  hernia,  —  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  cases,  if  not  the  most  remarkable, 
he  says,  of  any  which  he  ever  performed.  The  patient 
lived  many  years  after,  in  good  health. 

In   1805,  Dr.  Warren  and  Dr.  Jackson  were  ap- 


84  MEDICAL    SOCIETY.  [^ET.  29. 

pointed  a  Committee,  by  the  Councillors  of  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Medical  Society,  for  the  composition  of  a 
pharmacopoeia  for  the  society's  use.  The  work  was 
finished,  and  the  manuscript  presented  to  the  Coun 
cillors  in  June,  1807 ;  and  was  ordered  to  be  printed 
under  superintendence  of  the  Committee. 

Before  this  publication,  monstrous  anomalies  in  the 
preparation  and  names  of  medicines  existed  in  this 
State.  By  the  aid  of  a  very  extensive  catalogue  of 
corresponding  names,  they  introduced  a  correct  no 
menclature,  and  presented  to  physicians  and  apothe 
caries  a  uniform  mode  of  preparation.  It  cost  them  a 
year's  labor.  It  was  finished  and  laid  before  the 
Councillors  in  June,  1807;  and  printed  the  year  fol 
lowing. 

"  It  was  favorably  received  here  and  elsewhere,  and 
was  brought  into  general  use.  Its  leading  objects 
were  to  introduce  a  systematic  nomenclature  of  medi 
cal  substances,  in  conformity  with  the  improvements 
in  modern  chemistry ;  to  simplify  medical  prescrip 
tions,  by  omitting  obsolete  and  useless  formulae  of 
foreign  pharmacopoeias ;  to  bring  into  notice  several 
indigenous  articles  in  common  use  in  some  of  our 
larger  towns ;  to  procure  uniformity  in  the  prepara 
tion  and  administration  of  medicines ;  in  a  word,  to 
act  as  a  convenient  manual  for  the  physician  and 
apothecary.  And  these  objects  were  happily  at 
tained."  * 


*  Dr.  Alden's  Discourse,  1838. 


1805-1808.]  VACCINATION.  85 

The  practice  of  vaccination  had  been  introduced  in 
this  country  as  early  as  1800. 

So  much  mismanagement,  however,  prevailed  in 
regard  to  it,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to  correct  the 
practice  by  some  authority  that  could  be  relied  upon. 
On  the  3d  of  February,  1808,  a  Committee  was 
appointed  by  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society  to 
"  inquire  into  the  present  state  of  the  evidence  respect 
ing  the  prophylactic  power  of  the  cow-pock,  and  to 
report  such  measures  as  they  may  find  to  be  expedient 
for  establishing  the  practice  on  a  safe  foundation." 

On  this  Committee  were  appointed  Dr.  John  War 
ren,  who  had  always  taken  an  ardent  interest  in  the 
subject ;  Aaron  Dexter,  James  Jackson,  and  John  C. 
Warren. 

The  Report  was  read  on  the  1st  of  June,  1808.  It 
consisted  of  about  fifty  closely  printed  pages,  going 
into  an  elaborate  examination  of  the  evidence  upon 
the  subject,  and  presenting,  in  the  end,  four  resolu 
tions,  which  embody  in  a  compact  form  results,  from 
the  validity  of  which  nothing  has  since  occurred  to  de 
tract.  They  contain  all  that  is  now  known  upon  the 
subject ;  and  the  proper  rules  of  action,  from  which 
subsequent  experience  has  shown  no  reason  to  deviate. 
Controversies  have  since  arisen  as  to  the  validity  and 
permanence  of  vaccination:  but  nothing  has  really 
been  shown  to  invalidate  the  opinions  and  rules  con 
tained  in  these  resolutions,  —  that  those  who  undergo 
the  cow-pox  are  as  perfectly  protected  as  those  who 
have  had  the  small-pox ;  and  that  it  is  better  to  re- 


86  MEDICAL    LECTURES.  [JEl.  30. 

vaccinate,  in  order  to  insure  the  certainty  of  the  first 
vaccination. 

It  cannot  be  said  that  cow-pox  is  a  better  preserva 
tive  against  the  disease  than  small-pox  itself;  or 
that  it  may  not  recur  in  some  cases  after  cow-pox,  as 
well  as  after  small-pox. 

In  1805,  Dr.  Warren  removed  to  No.  2,  Park  Street ; 
where  he  continued  to  reside  for  the  rest  of  his  life, 
—  a  period  of  over  fifty  years.  During  this  year,  he 
took  a  room  over  Mr.  White's  apothecary  store  (then 
No.  49,  Marlborough  Street),  and  gave  public  demon 
strations  in  anatomy  for  the  established  physicians  of 
Boston.  They  were  resorted  to  by  nearly  all  the 
younger  part  of  the  Boston  Faculty. 

In  1806,  he  was  chosen  Adjunct  Professor  in  Ana 
tomy  and  Surgery  with  his  father ;  and  this  situation 
he  held  until  the  death  of  Dr.  John  Warren  in  1815, 
when  he  was  chosen  Professor  in  his  place. 

Dr.  John  Warren,  while  surgeon  of  a  military  hos 
pital  in  Boston  in  1780,  had  commenced  the  first 
course  of  anatomical  lectures  ever  delivered  in  New 
England ;  and,  the  following  year,  they  were  attended 
by  the  students  of  Harvard  College.  In  1783,  Presi 
dent  Willard  proposed  to  him  to  accept  the  office  of 
Professor  of  Anatomy,  which  office  was  created  in  refe 
rence  to  him  ;  and  he  furnished  a  plan  for  a  medical 
school,  which  was  adopted.  It  is  now  a  difficult 
matter  to  conceive  the  interest  and  attention  with 
which  a  body  of  students,  who  were  eager  to  avail 
themselves  of  advantages  then  rare,  listened  with 


1808.]  MEDICAL    POLICE.  87 

delighted  attention  during  an  extempore  lecture  of 
over  two  hours.  Those  who  enjoyed  this  privilege 
describe  the  senior  Warren  as  very  eloquent. 

One  of  the  most  important  medical  institutions  to 
which  Drs.  Jackson  and  Warren  contributed  their  aid 
and  support  —  an  institution  invaluable  for  the  har 
mony  and  union  it  has  promoted  for  fifty  years  among 
the  medical  men  of  Boston  —  is  the  Boston  Medical 
Association. 

This  association  was  formed  in  1806.  In  the  fol 
lowing  year  (1807),  the  Standing  Committee,  consist 
ing  of  John  Warren,  Lemuel  Hayward,  and  John 
Fleet,  were  directed  to  propose  a  code  of  medical 
police  for  the  regulation  of  the  members.  They 
reported  the  following  year ;  and  their  Report  was 
adopted  May  1,  1808. 

The  object  of  this  report  and  the  regulations  is  to 
produce  good  feeling,  honorable  conduct,  and  a  high 
sense  of  moral  feeling ;  and  to  prevent  all  unfair 
constructions  and  interferences  among  the  mem 
bers. 

They  encourage  consultations  in  difficult  and  pro 
tracted  cases,  enforce  the  value  of  time  and  punctu 
ality,  recommend  measures  for  avoiding  the  slightest 
attempts  to  depreciate  the  character  of  any  other 
physician,  and  urge  the  necessity  of  avoiding  any 
such  inquiries  or  hints  as  may  weaken  the  confidence 
of  patients  in  those  they  employ. 

The  Committee  condemn  appeals  to  the  public  in 
case  of  differences  among  physicians ;  show  that  both 


88  MEDICAL    POLICE. 


parties  injure  themselves  by  such  appeals  ;  and  recom 
mend  measures  for  their  private  settlement  when  they 
occur. 

The  use  of  quack  medicines  is  forbidden  to  each 
one  ;  or  of  any  secret  nostrum,  even  of  his  own  inven 
tion  :  "  for,  if  it  is  of  real  efficacy,  the  concealment  is 
inconsistent  with  beneficence  and  professional  libera 
lity  ;  and,  if  mystery  alone  gives  it  value  and  impor 
tance,  such  craft  implies  either  disgraceful  ignorance 
or  fraudulent  avarice." 

A  fee-table  is  established  ;  and,  while  gratuitous 
services  to  the  needy  are  urged,  wealthy  physicians  are 
discouraged  from  omitting  to  charge  those  able  to 
pay,  as  this  is  an  injury  to  their  medical  brethren. 

Seniority  is  to  be  determined  by  the  period  of  public 
and  acknowledged  practice  of  the  physician  in  the 
town. 

The  Eeport  bears  the  strong  impress  of  the  physi 
cian  whose  name  is  at  the  head  of  the  Committee,  by 
whom  the  preamble  was  undoubtedly  written. 

The  code  thus  adopted  has  formed  the  basis  of 
medical  conduct  in  Boston  for  fifty  years  past.  It  has 
been  cheerfully  adhered  to  by  the  whole  medical  fra 
ternity  in  this  city,  and  has  regulated  the  conduct  of 
members  towards  each  other  and  towards  their  patients. 

To  the  observance  of  this  code,  the  profession  are 
indebted  for  the  great  harmony  which  has  prevailed 
among  them,  and,  indeed,  throughout  the  State  ;  for  it 
has  shed  its  influence  over  the  Medical  Society  of 
Massachusetts. 


1808.]  BOSTON    MEDICAL    ASSOCIATION.  89 

In  1850,  arrangements  were  made  for  dividing  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society  into  district  societies, 
subject,  as  branches,  to  the  control  of  the  parent  soci 
ety.  In  virtue  of  the  by-laws  formed  for  this  purpose, 
the  Suffolk  District  Medical  Society,  which  includes 
Chelsea  with  Boston,  took  its  origin. 

As  it  was  composed  of  nearly  the  same  medical 
men  as  the  Boston  Medical  Association,  though  under 
different  officers ;  and  as  the  interest  of  the  members 
was  kept  up  by  stated  meetings,  —  forming,  in  fact,  a 
society  for  mutual  improvement,  —  the  existence  of  the 
Boston  Medical  Association  was  endangered.  It  was 
thought  by  many  that  the  new  society  might  take  its 
place.  Holding  annual  meetings,  and  for  business 
only,  the  interest  of  the  members  had  died  away.  Dr. 
Mason  Warren,  however,  interested  himself  in  the 
matter ;  and,  by  personal  application  to  many  of  the 
members,  succeeded  in  arousing  their  attention  to  the 
value  of  an  association  which  had  so  strongly  promoted 
the  union  and  good-fellowship  of  the  large  body  of 
physicians  who  composed  it ;  an  association  which 
had  the  prestige  of  established  rules,  and  of  some 
antiquity.  He  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  Commit 
tee,  consisting  of  Drs.  N.  B.  Shurtleff,  John  W.  War 
ren,  jun.,  and  himself,  for  revising  the  rules  and 
regulations.  Dr.  Jackson  gave  his  concurrence  and 
able  assistance,  contributing  an  Introduction.  By  his 
aid,  and  that  of  others,  this  valuable  institution  was 
rescued  from  dissolution,  and  has  since  continued  in 
efficient  action. 

12 


90  MASSACHUSETTS    MEDICAL    SOCIETY.  [yET.  31. 

Feb.  1,  1809,  Dr.  Warren  read  a  paper  upon  orga 
nic  disease  of  the  heart  before  the  Councillors  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  which  was  afterwards 
published.  It  was  a  subject  which  had  then  received 
little  attention  in  this  country  or  in  England.  In 
France,  Corvisart  and  others  were  devoting  much 
attention  to  it.  Dr.  Warren  gives  ten  cases  of  a  good 
deal  of  interest,  exemplifying  the  symptoms  of  this 
disease,  and  the  differences  between  this  and  hydro- 
thorax.  The  first  case  is  one  of  particular  interest,  as 
that  of  a  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  who  died 
the  previous  year,  and  whose  death  was  doubtless 
hastened  by  the  anxieties  of  office. 

These  cases  may  be  considered  interesting  upon 
another  account.  The  researches  of  Laennec  did 
not  introduce  auscultation  until  nearly  ten  years  after 
this  time  ;  and  although  some  physicians  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  applying  the  ear  to  the  chest,  and  even 
Hippocrates  is  said  to  have  done  so,  the  sounds  were 
not  marked  and  systematized,  nor  was  much  reliance 
placed  upon  them.  Since  the  introduction  of  ausqulta- 
tion,  so  much  has  been  written  upon  it,  that  it  may 
well  be  doubted,  whether,  in  the  brilliant  glare  of  a 
new  discovery,  other  means  of  diagnosis  have  not  been 
too  much  neglected.  It  is  well,  therefore,  sometimes 
to  go  back  to  observations  which  were  made  before 
the  introduction  of  this  method,  when  the  older  phy 
sicians  were  obliged  to  depend  entirely  upon  other 
symptoms  for  diagnosis.  Dr.  Warren's  cases  are 
related  with  a  clearness  and  simplicity  that  render 


1808-1809.]  DISEASES    OF    THE    HEART.  91 

them  interesting.  His  maxims  with  regard  to  value 
of  time  applied  also  to  words.  He  never  used  unne 
cessary  verbiage,  or  attempted  a  minuteness  of  descrip 
tion  which  darkened  the  subject.  He  always  described 
in  forcible  language,  and  with  as  few  words  as  pos 
sible. 

Dr.  Warren  has  given,  in  a  portion  of  his  Biogra 
phical  Notes,  an  interesting  account  of  the  circum 
stances  which  gave  rise  to  this  communication. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

In  the  year  1808, 1  was  called  to  attend  Governor  Sulli 
van,  who  was  then  Democratic  Governor  of  this  State.  He 
had  from  early  youth  been  affected  with  epilepsy.  Notwith 
standing  this  affection,  with  which  he  was  often  attacked  in 
public  places,  he  became  one  of  the  most  eminent  men  of  his 
time  as  a  lawyer  and  orator.  He  distinguished  himself  also 
as  an  author,  having  written  a  valuable  account  of  the  Dis 
trict  of  Maine.  His  sons,  four  in  number,  were  early 
friends  of  mine,  and  have  continued  so.  I  suppose  it  was 
owing  to  their  influence  that  I  was  desired,  though  just 
beginning  practice,  to  attend  the  Governor  of  the  Common 
wealth. 

He  was  subject  to  frequent  attacks  of  cough  and  difficulty 
of  breathing,  followed  by  copious  expectoration  of  mucus, 
and  frequently  of  blood  in  quantities.  He  had,  also,  violent 
palpitations  of  the  heart,  and  great  shortness  of  breath  on 
going  up  stairs.  Under  one  of  these  paroxysms,  his  life 
seemed  to  be  in  danger ;  and  I  requested  my  father  to  see 
him  in  consultation.  Among  some  remarks  which  he  made, 
he  dropped  a  suggestion  of  a  derangement  of  the  heart. 


92  DISEASES    OF    THE    HEART.  [JEt.  30,  31. 

The  moment  he  spoke  the  word,  the  whole  subject  flashed 
upon  my  mind.  In  1801  and  1802,  I  had  attended  the 
lectures  of  Corvisart  in  Paris.  He  examined  many  bodies 
before  us,  used  percussion,  and  pointed  out  organic  changes 
in  this  organ.  Amidst  a  multitude  of  other  concerns,  this 
account  of  diseases  of  the  heart  had  slipped  my  mind,  but 
was  revived  in  the  way  I  have  mentioned.  In  England,  the 
subject  was  so  entirely  unknown,  that  a  patient  in  Guy's 
Hospital,  dying  of  hypertrophy,  or,  as  Corvisart  called  it, 
aneurism  of  the  heart  (the  largest  I  have  ever  seen),  was 
thought  by  the  celebrated  Dr.  Saunders  to  have  died  of 
hydro  thorax.  The  body  was  not  examined  by  the  physi 
cians,  but  was  left  to  me,  who  was  a  surgeon's  pupil,  and 
had  no  right  to  do  it.  With  the  aid  of  my  friend  Seriter,  I 
examined  it,  and  got  out  this  enormous  heart,  which  is  now 
preserved  in  the  museum  of  the  Medical  College. 

The  symptoms  of  organic  disease  of  the  heart  were  not, 
indeed,  unknown ;  but  they  were  attributed  generally  to 
other  causes  than  derangement  of  the  heart  itself.  I  studied 
Governor  Sullivan's  case  very  carefully,  and  immediately 
discovered  all  the  symptoms  mentioned  by  Corsivart  and 
some  others.  It  so  happened,  that,  at  that  period,  there 
occurred  a  train  of  the  most  remarkable  cases  of  heart  affec 
tion  which  I  have  ever  had  the  opportunity  of  witnessing. 
In  consequence  of  this,  I  felt  myself  encouraged  to  speak  of 
them,  with  a  view  of  explaining  and  introducing  a  know 
ledge  of  this  disease.  The  Governor's  illness  made  a  great 
noise,  from  the  very  peculiar  state  of  parties  at  the  time. 
Of  course,  there  was  much  conversation  about  this  notion 
of  organic  disease.  All  the  older  physicians,  except  my 
father,  ridiculed  this  "  organic  fancy,"  as  Dr.  Danforth 
called  it. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1808,  the  Governor  died,  with 


1808-1809.]  DISEASES    OF    THE    HEART.  93 

full  symptoms  of  organic  disease  of  the  heart.  Permission 
was  given  to  examine  the  body  thoroughly ;  and  I  in 
vited  the  principal  physicians  in  town,  most  of  whom  came. 
Among  them  were  Drs.  Danforth,  Rand,  Jeffries,  Dexter, 
my  father,  and  Dr.  James  Jackson.  I  proceeded  to  examine 
the  body  with  tremulous  confidence,  knowing  that  some  of 
the  gentlemen  present  held  a  different  opinion,  and  confi 
dently  expected  I  should  fall  into  disgrace  and  ridicule. 

In  the  examination,  I  proceeded  to  point  out  the  swelled 
limbs,  purple  visage,  edematous  eyelids,  the  water  in  the 
thorax  and  abdomen,  congested  lungs,  all  of  which  belonged 
to  the  train  of  organic  changes.  But  the  heart  was  yet 
untouched.  I  then  stated  that  the  heart  would  be  found 
enlarged,  the  left  cavities  increased  in  capacity,  and  the 
origin  of  the  aorta,  with  its  valves,  ossified  to  a  considerable 
degree.  I  then  made  a  small  aperture  in  the  left  ventricle, 
which  was  full  of  coagulated  blood  ;  and,  passing  the  finger 
into  its  cavity,  sought  for  the  aortic  aperture.  This  was 
very  much  contracted,  and  surrounded  by  a  bony  ring  ex 
tending  through  the  aorta  to  the  valves.  The  heart  was 
enlarged,  and  its  cavities  extended  ;  the  parietes  thickened. 
The  other  gentlemen  examined  successively,  and  were  all 
satisfied  of  the  change  of  structure. 

The  subject  was  soon  after  illustrated  by  the  appearance 
of  Corvisart's  work  in  this  country.  In  England,  the  know 
ledge  of  these  complaints  became  more  slowly  diffused  than 
here  ;  but,  since  that  time,  they  have  been  very  much 
studied,  and  are  now  well  understood.  Since  that  time, 
also,  percussion  and  auscultation  have  been  generally  intro 
duced. 

At  that  time,  we  supposed,  or,  at  least,  I  did,  that  all  con 
firmed  organic  diseases  of  the  heart  were  necessarily  fatal. 
But,  after  a  few  years'  experience,  I  began  to  see  that  pa- 


94  SPOTTED  FEVER.  [i&r.  3?. 

tients  might  recover  under  proper  management ;  and,  of 
late  years,  it  has  been  rare  for  me  to  see  a  patient  die  of  this 
disease.  The  course  of  treatment  I  have  found  successful 
is  the  following :  — 

I.  Diminution  of  food. 

II.  Abstinence  from  animal  food  and  all  stimulants. 

III.  A  mild  mercurial  course  continued  for  a  year. 

IV.  Counter-irritation  over  the  cardiac  region. 
V.  Small  bleedings  from  the  arm. 

VI.    Mental  and  bodily  tranquillity. 


In  1806,  a  disease  of  peculiarly  fatal  character 
appeared  at  Medfield,  in  this  State,  and  was  known 
under  the  name  of  "  spotted  fever."  It  prevailed  in 
the  high  land  of  Worcester  County ;  afterwards  came 
to  Cambridge,  and  in  some  degree  to  Boston.  The 
eruption,  says  Dr.  Warren,  was  perfect,  was  magnifi 
cent.  It  had  the  form  and  aspect  of  the  spots  of  a 
leopard,  in  some  cases.  The  disease  was  called  a  cold 
fever ;  and  the  pathological  phenomena  consisted  in 
congestion  of  the  brain  and  lungs.  All  the  diseases 
of  the  period  were  impregnated  with,  and  bore  the 
stamp  of,  this  affection. 

Hot  external  applications  in  the  beginning,  bleeding 
in  the  re-active  stage  of  the  disease,  and  cordials  in 
the  advanced  stages,  were  employed.  The  Medical 
Society  appointed  Drs.  Welch,  Jackson,  and  Warren 
to  draw  up  a  Report  upon  this  disease.  Circulars 
were  addressed  to  every  Fellow  of  the  Society,  and 
to  other  reputable  physicians  in  whose  vicinity  it  had 
prevailed,  requesting  answers  to  a  list  of  questions 


1810.]  MEDICAL    SCHOOL.  95 

which  were  proposed.  Communications  were  re 
ceived  in  reply  from  twelve  persons,  all  Fellows  of 
the  Society.  Dr.  Warren  made  many  post-mortem 
examinations,  the  results  of  which  were  incorporated 
in  the  Report. 

"  Before  the  appearance  of  this  pamphlet,"  says 
Dr.  Alden,  in  his  Address  to  the  Massachusetts  Medi 
cal  Society  in  1838,  "  the  treatment  had  been,  in  many 
cases,  empirical,  and  of  course,  in  those  instances, 
prejudicial.  Active  stimulants,  opium,  brandy,  and 
steaming,  were  too  often  indiscriminately  used ;  and 
it  was  the  opinion  of  intelligent  and  cautious  observ 
ers,  that  not  a  few  of  the  individuals  attacked  died  of 
the  remedies  rather  than  of  the  disease.  After  a  full 
and  careful  investigation,  it  turned  out,  as  might  have 
been  anticipated,  that  the  disease  was  a  highly  con 
gestive  form  of  fever,  varying  exceedingly  in  its  type, 
in  different  places  and  seasons,  and  requiring,  like 
other  forms  of  fever,  an  eclectic,  rather  than  a  spe 
cific,  mode  of  treatment." 

This  Report  was  made  to  the  society,  June  20, 
1810. 

In  1810,  the  Professors  succeeded  in  obtaining  the 
removal  of  the  Medical  School  to  Boston.  At  the 
time  Dr.  John  Warren  commenced  lecturing,  it  was 
necessary  to  cross  by  a  ferry  to  Cambridge ;  or,  in 
stormy  weather,  to  ride  round  nine  miles,  through 
Roxbury.  Cambridge  Bridge,  erected  in  1786,  facili 
tated  the  route :  but  still  it  was  found  a  serious  evil 
for  a  physician  in  full  practice  to  ride  daily  to  Cam- 


96  MEDICAL    SCHOOL.  [-&T.  32. 

bridge  and  back ;  and,  as  most  of  the  pupils  resided 
in  Boston,  it  was  equally  inconvenient  to  them.  There 
were  also  some  objections  made  to  under-graduates 
attending  the  lectures  intended  for  medical  students, 
as  had  been  the  previous  custom.  One  of  the  senior 
professors  resided  at  Cambridge ;  and  this  had,  pro 
bably,  delayed  the  removal. 

These  objections,  however,  were  finally  overruled 
or  compromised,  on  the  condition  that  lectures  should 
also  be  given  in  Cambridge. 

The  hall  over  Mr.  White's  store  was  fitted  up  as 
well  as  circumstances  admitted,  and  the  lectures  were 
given  here  for  several  years.  As  the  number  of  pu 
pils  increased,  the  accommodations  were  found  insuffi 
cient  ;  and  great  exertions  were  made,  particularly  by 
Drs.  Warren  and  Jackson,  to  provide  a  more  ample 
arrangement.  Application  was  made  to  the  corpora 
tion  of  Harvard  University  for  their  aid  in  enlarging 
an  establishment  which  was,  in  fact,  their  property. 
They  agreed  to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for  a  grant  of 
ten  thousand  dollars  a  year  for  ten  years ;  with  the 
condition,  that,  if  this  was  obtained,  the  sum  of  twenty 
thousand  dollars  should  be  advanced  for  the  building 
of  a  new  college.  By  the  aid  of  this  provision  (which 
gave  three  thousand  dollars  a  year  to  Williamstown, 
and  three  thousand  to  Amherst),  they  succeeded  re 
markably  well  in  obtaining  this  grant.  The  principal 
labor  was  done  by  Dr.  Jackson  and  Dr.  Warren. 
They  applied  to  the  members  of  the  Legislature  indi 
vidually  and  personally ;  wrote  pamphlets,  and  articles 


1810.]  MEDICAL    SCHOOL.  97 

in  the  newspapers ;  and  omitted  no  honorable  means 
to  obtain  the  desired  object.  By  the  grant  of  this  sum, 
the  University  was  relieved  from  the  great  pressure 
under  which  it  then  labored.  Great  assistance  was 
obtained  from  the  Honorable  John  Lowell,  of  the  cor 
poration,  and  from  President  Kirkland.  A  lot  of  land 
was  purchased,  and  a  very  substantial  building  erected 
and  opened  in  1815.  Dr.  John  Warren,  who  had 
taken  a  very  ardent  interest  in  this  matter,  and  given 
it  every  aid,  did  not  live  to  see  it  completed. 


13 


98  MASSACHUSETTS    GENERAL    HOSPITAL.  [>ET.  33. 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

MEDICAL   AND    CHARITABLE   INSTITUTIONS. 

THE  Medical  School  being  fairly  established  in  Bos 
ton,  the  next  object  was  to  obtain  for  the  students  the 
advantages  of  clinical  instruction.  As  there  was  no 
Hospital,  the  Alms-house  was  the  only  place  where  the 
poor  could  be  received,  or  diseases  observed  by  medi 
cal  pupils. 

The  old  Alms-house  in  Boston  stood  on  Park  Street, 
together  with  a  Workhouse  and  Bridewell,  and  a  Gra 
nary.  In  1800,  a  new  Alms-house  was  built  in  Leverett 
Street.  The  professors  solicited  the  privilege  for  the 
Medical  School,  of  attending  there.  This  was  given, 
on  the  condition  that  the  physician  should  attend  gra 
tuitously,  and  supply  the  sick  with  medicines.  This 
was  done  for  a  number  of  years  by  Dr.  Warren  and 
Dr.  Jackson,  —  the  former  taking  the  surgical  de 
partment,  and  the  latter  the  medical. 

In  the  mean  time,  they  began  to  exert  themselves 
to  interest  the  public,  and  especially  the  wealthy  men 
of  the  town,  in  the  erection  of  a  Hospital,  to  be  con 
nected  with  the  School  of  Medicine.  Dr.  John  War 
ren  had  already  addressed  a  letter  to  Governor 
William  Phillips,  to  interest  him  in  this  matter ;  and 


1811.]  LEGACIES.  99 

Mr.  Phillips  ultimately  agreed  to  give  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  as  appears  by  the  following  letter :  — 

Letter  from  Governor  Phillips. 

BOSTON,  July  81, 1810. 

SIR,  —  I  am  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  subject 
upon  which  we  have  repeatedly  conversed,  —  that  of  esta 
blishing  in  this  town  an  hospital  for  the  reception  of  lunatics 
and  other  sick  persons.  To  place  such  an  institution  in  a 
respectable  and  permanently  useful  situation,  a  large  sum 
will  be  required.  I  will  engage  to  pay  to  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  of  the  town  of  Boston,  twenty  thousand  dollars,  so 
soon  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  shall  have 
been  subscribed,  for  the  erection  of  such  an  hospital,  and  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars  of  said  sum  actually  paid  to  said 
Overseers,  provided  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston 
shall  discharge  me  from  their  demand  against  me,  as  the 
executor  of  my  late  honored  father's  will,  for  five  thousand 
dollars,  which  he  bequeathed  to  said  town  toward  the  build 
ing  a  hospital ;  as  it  is  my  intention  that  said  legacy  be 
included  in  said  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

With  respect  and  esteem, 

I  am,  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

WILLIAM  PHILLIPS. 

JOHN  WARREN,  M.D. 

A  Circular  was  prepared  and  signed  by  James 
Jackson  and  John  C.  Warren,  in  which  the  want  of  a 
hospital,  and  its  advantages  over  an  alms-house,  are 
very  forcibly  urged.  However  good  may  be  the 
arrangements  of  such  an  institution,  there  are  very 
serious  evils  which  seem  inseparably  connected  with 


100  MASSACHUSETTS    GENERAL    HOSPITAL.  [JET.  33. 

an  alms-house.  "  Most  especially  they  suffer  from  the 
want  of  good  nurses.  In  the  alms-house,  they  are 
selected  from  among  the  more  healthy  inhabitants ; 
but,  unfortunately,  those  who  are  best  qualified  will 
always  prefer  more  profitable  and  less  laborious  occu 
pations  elsewhere.  It  must,  then,  be  obvious,  that 
the  persons  employed  as  nurses  cannot  be  such  as 
will  conscientiously  perform  the  duties  of  this  office." 
The  Circular  goes  on  to  show,  in  a  forcible  manner, 
the  importance  of  a  medical  school  in  New  England, 
and  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  hospital  to  a  medical 
school. 

This  paper,  which  has  been  republished  in  Mr. 
Bowditch's  history  of  the  hospital,  was  drawn  with 
great  ability,  and  was  well  deserving  of  being  rescued 
from  the  oblivion  of  a  transient  circular.  The  same 
reasoning  which  applied  then  may  apply  again.  It 
probably  has  not  yet  been  found  possible  to  render 
alms-houses  the  most  unexceptionable  places  for  the 
treatment  of  the  sick  poor ;  and  the  same  want  which 
existed  in  1810,  when  there  was  no  hospital,  may 
exist  again  in  the  city  or  the  state,  when  there  is  only 
one  hospital,  and  over  six  times  the  amount  of  popu 
lation. 

Application  was  also  made  to  J.  Perkins ;  Colonel 
Thomas  H.  Perkins  ;  David  Sears  ;  William,  Richard, 
and  George  Sullivan.  All  these  gentlemen,  and  some 
others,  exerted  themselves ;  a  spirit  of  liberality  was 
excited  in  our  community,  and  the  way  prepared  for 
opening  a  general  subscription.  These  and  other 


1811.]  LEGACIES.  101 

gentlemen  called  on  every  respectable  individual  in 
Boston,  and  obtained  a  sum  of  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  This  was  increased  by  a  donation, 
by  the  Legislature,  of  the  Province  House,  —  the 
ancient  habitation  of  the  Governors  of  this  State,  — 
which  was  sold  for  fifty  thousand  dollars;  and,  in 
1818,  the  foundation  of  the  hospital  was  laid  by  a 
Masonic  fraternity,  on  the  4th  of  July.  The  east 
wing  was  first  built,  then  the  centre,  and  afterwards 
the  west  wing. 

During  the  lapse  of  a  few  years  following,  legacies 
poured  in  from  every  quarter;  and  ultimately  two 
additional  wings  and  a  kitchen  completed  the  edifice 
as  it  now  stands  (1849).  Some  of  these  legacies 
were  obtained  partly  through  the  influence  of  Dr. 
Warren. 

Mr.  Abraham  Truro,  a  Jewish  gentleman,  having 
met  with  a  bad  fracture  in  being  thrown  from  his 
chaise,  experienced  a  fatal  mortification  of  the  leg. 
Dr.  Warren  was  requested  to  inform  him  of  his 
approaching  fate,  and  invite  his  attention  to  his  will. 
On  doing  this,  he  proposed  to  him  to  contribute  to 
the  hospital,  to  which  he  gave  ten  thousand  dollars ; 
and  to  the  Humane  Society,  to  which  he  gave  five 
thousand. 

Dr.  Warren  was  instrumental  also  in  interesting 
Mr.  John  McLean  in  behalf  of  the  hospital,  —  he 
having  a  favorite  servant  under  the  surgeon's  care  in 
that  institution,  Mr.  McLean  bequeathed  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  to  the  hospital ;  in 


102  MASSACHUSETTS    GENERAL    HOSPITAL. 


recognition  of  which,  his  name  was  affixed  to  the 
Asylum  at  Charlestown  (now  Somerville).  From  the 
character  of  those  who  had  charge  of  the  hospital,  — 
who  were  persons  of  enlarged  views,  and  mostly  of 
liberal  education,  —  the  establishment  assumed  a  dif 
ferent  character  from  that  of  other  similar  institutions. 
In  cleanliness,  and  in  the  perfection  of  its  arrange 
ments  generally,  it  has  surpassed  every  other  esta 
blishment  of  the  kind  in  this  country  and  in  Europe. 
Dr.  Warren  originally  subscribed  four  hundred  dol 
lars  ;  and,  when  the  building  was  enlarged,  five 
hundred  more.  Subsequently,  he  gave  a  thousand  ; 
the  interest  to  be  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of 
religious  and  moral  tracts  for  such  sick  persons  and 
convalescents  as  were  able  to  read  them.  The  distri 
bution  appears  to  have  been  faithfully  accomplished, 
and  is  said  to  have  done,  and  to  be  still  doing,  much 
good. 

While  Trustee  of  the  Humane  Society,  he  proposed 
to  them  to  give  their  superfluous  funds  for  the  sup 
port  of  free  beds  in  the  hospital.  This  was  done, 
and  the  donation  continued  for  many  years. 

To  the  active  practitioners  of  the  present  day,  the 
phrase  "  College  of  Physicians,"  as  applied  to  any 
New-England  institution,  must  be  entirely  new.  The 
idea  of  such  an  institution  having  ever  existed,  is  pro 
bably  long  since  forgotten. 

It  is  now  so  long  since  the  controversy  on  this 
subject  passed  away,  that  it  may  be  regarded  as  mere 
matter  of  history  ;  and,  as  such,  there  can  be  no  harm 


1811.]  COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS.  103 

done  by  alluding  to  it.  The  history  of  the  past  is 
useful;  and  it  is  better  to  have  facts  related  upon 
authority,  rather  than  vague  traditions,  which  may 
be  used  for  bad  purposes,  whenever  an  individual  or 
a  class  rise  up  so  to  apply  them. 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  February,  1811,  a  petition 
was  presented  to  the  General  Court  of  Massachu 
setts,  signed  by  twelve  well-known  physicians.  The 
sentiments  here  set  forth  appear  plausible  and  well 
intended.  They,  however,  involve  a  fallacy.  "  Two 
stars  keep  not  their  motion  in  one  sphere ;  "  and  two 
medical  societies,  holding  equal  privileges,  could  not 
exist  harmoniously  together.  Jealousies  and  rivalry 
must  ensue.  As  it  is  short,  it  may  be  given  in 
whole :  — 

THIS  PETITION  MOST  RESPECTFULLY  SHOWETH,  That  seeing 
health  is  a  blessing  which  sweetens  all  our  enjoyments; 
and  long  life  that  which  all  men  naturally  desire  ;  so  every 
thing  that  tendeth  to  secure  the  one,  and  leadeth  to  the 
other,  is  an  object  worthy  the  attention  of  this  Legislature. 

And  considering,  moreover,  that,  of  the  various  methods 
of  obtaining  and  diffusing  medical  knowledge,  not  one  is 
found  so  effectual  and  desirable  as  a  friendly  and  liberal 
intercourse  and  honorable  associations  of  its  professors ;  more 
especially  when  their  end  and  aim  is  nrntual  improvement 
and  the  public  good ;  and  experience  has  proved  that  two 
literary  and  scientific  societies  produce  more  than  double 
the  advantage  of  one. 

Influenced  by  these  sentiments,  we  your  petitioners  pray 
the  Honorable  Legislature  to  constitute  us,  and  such  as 
may  hereafter  associate  with  us,  a  body  politic  and  corporate, 
by  the  name  and  title  of  the  Massachusetts  College  of  Phy- 


I 


104  MASSACHUSETTS    MEDICAL    SOCIETY.  [JEl.  33. 

sicians ;  with  such  powers,  privileges,  and  immunities  as 
other  medical  associations,  of  the  like  nature  and  views, 
enjoy,  under  the  same  denomination,  in  several  States  of 
the  Union. 

And  your  petitioners  shall,  &c. 

An  account  of  this  controversy  is  given  as  follows 
in  the  Biographical  Notes :  — 

The  connection  of  the  professors  with  the  Medical  Soci 
ety  enabled  them  to  unite  the  force  of  that  body  to  that  of 
the  Medical  School,  for  the  advancement  of  medical  science. 

Before  that  time,  the  Medical  Society  uniformly  opposed 

the  progress  of  the  Medical  School.     Drs. and  other 

original  members  professed  an  opinion,  that  the  Medical 
School  should  not  interfere  with  the  license  to  practise 
medicine.  On  this  ground  arose  the  first  dispute. 

At  length  the  gentlemen  alluded  to  left  the  society  ;  and 
the  existing  generation  —  composed  of  such  men  as  General 
Brooks,  Dr.  Fisher  of  Beverly,  and  others  —  united  with 
them,  in  order  to  form  a  solid  union,  and  to  prevent  the 
collision  of  separate  bodies.  The  professors,  some  years 
after,  proposed  a  set  of  articles  providing  for  the  examina 
tion  of  all  medical  students  for  practice  by  a  joint  Board. 
The  proposal,  though  perfectly  fair,  excited  some  jealousy ; 
and  the  plan  was  abandoned,  never  to  be  revived.  The 
society  lost  the  opportunity  of  influencing  all  the  medical 
examinations,  and  of  basing  them  on  principles  which  were 
sound  and  practicable.  They  also  lost  a  large  number  of 
licentiates ;  as  young  men  naturally  preferred  the  medical 
degree  of  the  University  to  a  mere  license  to  practise. 

No  loss  of  good  feeling,  however,  was  experienced  upon 
the  part  of  the  society :  on  the  contrary,  the  professors  of 
the  Medical  School  continued  to  labor  for  the  society,  and 
were  for  some  time  its  most  active  members. 


1811.]  COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS.  105 

A  great  excitement  was  produced  by  the  effort  on  the 
part  of  a  few  physicians  to  get  up  a  medical  institution, 
independent  of  the  Medical  Society  and  the  Medical  School, 
combining  the  powers  and  privileges  of  both.  They  were 
to  be  authorized  to  give  lectures,  confer  degrees,  and  to 
regulate,  like  the  Medical  Society,  the  practice  of  the  pro 
fession  generally. 

The  profession,  the  society,  and  the  Medical  School,  op 
posed  these  measures.      Political  feeling  would,  however, 
have  carried  the  proposed  institution,  but  for  the  following 
circumstances :  First,  eight  or  ten  physicians,  of  the  Demo 
cratic   party,   voted    with    the    Federalists.      Second,   the 
speaker  (Honorable  Judge  Story) ,  partly  from  his  personal 
acquaintance  with  the  individuals  of  the  Medical  School, 
and  partly  from  seeing  the  inconvenience  and  injustice  of 
the  plan,  was  led  to  take  a  decided  part  against  it.     This 
gave  me  an  opportunity  of  addressing  him  in  a  pamphlet  of 
some  length,  styled  a  "  Letter  to  a  Republican  Member  of 
the  House  of  Representatives."     This  letter  was  distributed 
to  every  member  of  the  whole  government,  beside  pushing 
it  into  every  part  of  the  community. 

The  third  circumstance  above  alluded  to  was  the  personal 
application  of  the  members  of  the  Medical  School,  with  Dr. 
John  Warren  at  their  head,  who  was  also  President  of  the 
Medical  Society  at  that  time.  They  waited  on  the  greater 
part  of  the  members  of  the  General  Court  of  both  parties, 
and  conversed  with  them  individually. 

The  members  were  also  invited  to  attend  the  lectures  in 
Maiiborough  Street,  where  they  became  acquainted  with 
the  Medical  School,  and  imbibed  an  interest  in  it,  which  led 
to  the  grant  of  the  sum  of  money,  elsewhere  spoken  of,  to 
the  University. 

A  Committee  of  the  society  and  of  the  Medical  School, 

14 


106  COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS.  [JET.  34. 

with  Dr.  John  Warren  at  their  head,  supported  by  General 
Brooks,  Drs.  Dexter,  Townsend,  Childs  of  Pittsfield,  Kit- 
tridge  of  Andover,  and  the  large  body  of  the  most  respecta 
ble  veteran  members  of  the  profession,  met  the  Committee 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  Senate  Chamber. 
They  were  addressed  by  most  of  the  gentlemen  above  named, 
and  by  others. 

The  conference  was  quite  imposing.  The  chamber  was 
crowded  with  spectators ;  and  the  venerable  character  of 
the  opposers  of  the  memorial,  or  petition,  altogether  produced 
a  strong  impression.  Dr.  Jackson  and  myself  were  pre 
sent  to  supply  the  materials  for  their  seniors  to  work  with. 
The  subsequent  discussions  in  the  Senate  and  House  were 
violent,  but  highly  favorable  to  the  Medical  School.  The 
community  took  deep  interest  in  the  affair.  The  debates 
were  protracted  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  during  which  no 
other  business  was  done. 

On  the  question  being  taken,  there  were  two  hundred  and 
nine  in  favor  of  the  memorial,  and  two  hundred  and  eigh 
teen  against  it.  A  reconsideration  was  moved  by  the 
minority  for  the  next  day,  which  was  carried ;  and,  in 
the  mean  time,  the  memorialists  scoured  the  country,  and 
brought  in  some  additional  votes,  diminishing  the  majority : 
but  this  majority,  though  small,  being  quite  decided,  the 
affair  was  considered  settled;  and  great  was  the  joy  of 
the  Medical  School. 

If  the  result  had  been  different,  there  would  have  been 
two  medical  schools  at  this  day  in  Boston ;  and  the  conse 
quence  would  have  been,  that  qualified  persons,  in  successful 
business,  would  have  declined  the  chairs,  and  they  would 
have  been  filled  for  the  most  part  by  young  aspirants,  who 
labored  for  money  only,  and  who  would  have  quitted  an  un 
profitable  concern  as  soon  as  they  found  they  could  do  better. 


1812.J  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  107 

The  results  of  this  combat  were,  on  the  one  part,  a  suc 
cessful  medical  school ;  on  the  other,  the  elements  of  a 
hostility  which  showed  itself  whenever  it  could  do/  so  with 
effect.  Among  the  fruits  of  the  latter  was  an  interference 
in  getting  subjects,  which  was  very  unpleasant.  The  con 
troversy  was  carried  on  with  great  warmth  in  the  news 
papers  of  the  day. 

No  further  attempt  was  made  to  get  up  a  second  medical 
school  until  many  years  after. 


A  very  important  and  interesting  society,  of  which 
Dr.  Warren  has  given  no  account,  and  in  which  he 
held  office,  was  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society, 
formed  about  the  year  1812. 

The  preamble  to  their  Constitution  describes  the 
subscribers  as  having  associated  for  the  "  purpose  of 
giving  advice,  assistance,  and  information  to  such 
American  citizens  as  may  stand  in  need  thereof." 

After  expressing  their  admiration  of  the  singular 
ability  and  pure  intentions  with  which  the  measures 
of  government  had  been  conducted  under  the  gui 
dance  of  George  Washington,  and  alluding  to  the 
commercial  and  general  prosperity  produced,  and 
the  respect  acquired  among  foreign  nations  by  those 
measures,  they  refer  to  the  dangers  which  may  arise 
from  a  corrupt  administration,  and  from  the  evil 
designs  of  ambitious  men,  who  will  attempt  to  mis 
lead  the  understandings  and  inflame  the  passions  of 
the  people.  These  designs  can  be  counteracted  only 


108  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.          [^E'f.  34. 

by  honest  zeal  in  the   cultivation  of  public  intelli 
gence,  animated  by  public  virtue. 

"  We  hold  it  to  be  always  a  right,  and  sometimes  a 
duty,"  they  say,  "  to  assemble  and  deliberate  upon  the 
state  of  public  affairs,  to  acquire  and  to  impart  know 
ledge,  and  to  increase  the  ardor  of  our  patriotism  by 
the  warmth  of  our  social  attachments. 

"  We  will  use  our  best  endeavors  to  support  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  in  its  original  pu 
rity  ;  to  have  the  government  administered  with 
fidelity,  wisdom,  and  ability ;  to  oppose  all  encroach 
ments  of  democracy,  aristocracy,  or  despotism ;  to 
maintain  the  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth ; 
and,  with  all  our  strength,  to  oppose  the  establish 
ment  of  any  usurped  power  therein." 

Besides  the  obligation  to  exert  themselves  for  the 
due  administration  of  government,  and  for  advancing 
the  general  welfare,  they  declare  the  object  of  the 
society  to  be,  to  supply  the  wants  and  relieve  the 
sufferings  of  unfortunate  American  citizens  within 
the  sphere  of  their  personal  acquaintance.  "  To 
keep  constantly  awake  our  feelings  of  compassion ;  to 
inspire  us  with  a  confidence  that.we  should  ourselves 
receive  assistance  from  our  brethren,  if,  by  any  unfore 
seen  calamity,  we  should  be  reduced  to  distress  ;  and 
to  increase  our  means  of  doing  good  to  our  fellow- 
men,  —  we  have  formed  ourselves  into  a  society." 

The  qualifications  for  membership  were  a  good 
moral  character,  and  a  firm  attachment  to  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  United  States.  Each  member  was  to 


1812.]  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  109 

pay  two  dollars  upon  his  admission  to  the  society,  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  fund  for  the  objects  men 
tioned. 

This  society,  it  will  be  observed,  was  formed  about 
the  commencement  of  the  war  of  1812,  when  pro 
perty  of  all  kinds  was  entirely  uncertain.  The 
embarrassments  of  commerce,  or  the  depreciation  of 
public  stock,  might  at  any  time  reduce  the  wealthiest 
individual  to  beggary.  Eeal  estate  even  was  not 
secure  from  the  invasion  of  a  foreign  foe,  and  dangers 
might  be  apprehended  even  from  the  violence  of 
.party  mobs.  The  insurrections  of  Shays  and  others 
were  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  most  men.  Not  only 
buildings  might  be  burnt,  but  the  records  of  property 
might  be  destroyed.  The  history  of  this  society  itself 
affords  a  striking  instance  of  the  insecurity  of  all 
investments. 

It  was  therefore  peculiarly  appropriate  to  the  cir 
cumstances  of  the  time,  to  form  a  society,  the  members 
of  which  should  be  bound,  not  only  to  constant  exer 
tions  for  the  support  of  order  and  good  government, 
but  also  to  assist  each  other  in  case  of  unexpected 
reverses. 

General  Arnold  Welles,  who  was  closely  connected 
with  the  family  of  Dr.  Warren  both  by  the  ties  of 
marriage  and  of  friendship,  was  the  first  President. 
Among  the  Vice-Presidents  wrere  William  Sullivan, 
Honorable  Josiah  Quincy,  John  C.  Warren,  and  Ben 
jamin  Russell.  The  Honorable  John  Welles  was 
Treasurer.  Lemuel  Shaw,  Esq.,  was  Secretary. 


110  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  [JE'r.  34. 

The  society  was  first  known  by  the  name  of  the 
"Washington  Association."  Their  Annual  Meeting 
took  place  upon  the  22d  of  February,  and  they  had 
an  oration  in  honor  of  Washington.  Soon  after,  the 
name  was  changed ;  and  it  was  determined  to  fix 
upon  the  30th  of  April  —  the  anniversary  of  the 
inauguration  of  the  first  President  —  for  a  public 
celebration ;  probably  because  that  season  of  the  year 
was  better  suited  for  parade  and  display.  The  Gover 
nor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and  staff,  the  clergy,  the 
Government  of  Harvard  College,  and  all  who  held 
places  of  honor  and  distinction,  were  invited  person 
ally  to  attend.  Among  them  we  find  the  names  of 
Caleb  Strong,  Christopher  Gore,  John  Brooks,  Isaac 
Parker,  John  T.  Kirkland,  James  Freeman,  William 
E.  Channing,  and  Joseph  S.  Buckminster.  The 
Boston  Light  Infantry,  the  Winslow  Blues,  and  the 
Washington  Artillery,  volunteered  their  services. 

They  assembled  in  the  State  House,  and,  preceded 
by  the  Infantry  Companies,  marched  in  procession  to 
the  Old  South  Church.  Banners  were  provided, 
having  for  their  mottoes,  "  Independence,"  "  Union  of 
the  United  States,"  "Commerce,"  "Peace,"  "National 
Glory."  One  hundred  youths  followed,  dressed  in 
uniform,  decorated  with  wreaths  and  garlands,  each 
bearing  upon  his  breast  a  small  but  elegant  copy  of 
Washington's  Legacy.  The  Washington  Artillery 
brought  up  the  rear.  An  oration  was  delivered  by 
the  Honorable  William  Sullivan;  and  odes,  written 
for  the  occasion,  were  sung. 


1812.]  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  Ill 

There  was  an  earnestness  and  reality  in  such  a 
celebration  in  those  days.  Military  pomp  was  not 
mere  show.  The  soldiers  were  men  who  might  soon 
be  called  upon  to  sacrifice  their  lives  for  their  families 
and  hearths.  Additional  solemnity  was  given  to  the 
procession  by  the  attendance  of  the  large  body  of 
distinguished  men,  a  few  only  of  whose  names  have 
been  given  above.  It  was  a  time  when  it  might  be 
feared,  with  just  reason,  that  not  only  the  principles, 
but  the  very  name,  of  Washington  might  be  brought 
into  contempt  by  the  extent  of  democratic  principles, 
and  the  popular  furor  in  favor  of  a  rival  and  suc 
cessor. 

Societies  were  speedily  formed,  upon  the  same 
model,  in  the  other  towns  of  New  England,  and  soon 
extended  even  to  the  Southern  cities.  One  of  the 
earliest  was  in  Portsmouth,  in  which  we  find  the  name 
of  Daniel  Webster,  as  one  of  a  Committee  to  mature 
resolutions  for  forming  a  Constitution  upon  the  model 
of  that  of  Boston.  Others  were  formed  in  Cambridge, 
Charlestown,  Plymouth,  and  shortly  after  in  Balti 
more,  and  other  cities  at  the  South.  These  societies 
embraced  all  the  leading  men  of  the  Federal  party. 
In  February,  1814,  we  find  the  number  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Boston  Society,  initiated  and  paid,  to  be 
sixteen  hundred  and  forty-seven. 

These  societies  held  no  ulterior  or  secret  views :  to 
support  the  Federal  Constitution,  to  honor  the  name 
and  preserve  the  principles  of  Washington,  to  sup 
port  the  State  Governments,  and  to  assist  the  destitute, 


112  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  [J5x.  34. 


were  the  sole  objects  of  their  association.  Although 
these  men  had  exerted  themselves  with  all  their 
powers  to  avert  the  war  of  1812,  yet  it  was  proved  by 
subsequent  events  that  they  were  the  most  prompt 
in  defence  of  their  native  land,  and  the  first  to  appre 
ciate  the  services  of  those  military  and  naval  officers 
who  won  honor  for  themselves  and  their  country  by 
the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties. 

In  September,  1812,  the  society  sent  a  vote  of 
thanks,  accompanied  with  a  letter  of  congratulation, 
to  Isaac  Hull,  late  commander  of  the  "  Constitution  " 
frigate,  on  occasion  of  his  brilliant  victory  over  the 
British  frigate  "  Guerriere."  In  December  of  the 
same  year,  similar  marks  of  approbation  were  sent 
to  Stephen  Decatur,  on  occasion  of  his  "  glorious  " 
victory  over  the  "  Macedonian  ;  "  and  to  Captain 
Jones,  of  the  sloop  "  Wasp,"  for  his  brilliant  victory 
over  the  sloop  "  Frolick." 

The  reply  of  Hull  was  as  follows  :  — 

BOSTON,  Sept.  12,  1812. 

GENTLEMEN,  —  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  ad 
dress  of  the  10th  September,  covering  the  vote  of  the 
Washington  Benevolent  Society  of  Massachusetts,  on  the 
capture  of  the  British  frigate  "  Guerriere  "  by  the  "  Con 
stitution,"  under  my  command. 

To  receive  the  approbation  of  a  society  composed  of  so 
respectable  a  portion  of  the  citizens  of  the  third  city  in  the 
Union,  and  through  a  channel  so  highly  respectable  as  your 
Committee,  is  to  me  flattering  in  the  highest-  degree;  and  I 
should  be  wanting  in  gratitude  were  I  not  to  acknowledge 
the  honor  done  me. 


1812.]  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  113 

Permit  me  therefore,  gentlemen,  through  you,  to  make 
known  to  the  society,  of  which  you  are  members,  my  feelings 
of  gratitude ;  and  I  pray  that  they  may  be  assured,  that  if 
my  feeble  efforts  have  contributed  towards  the  advancement 
of  a  naval  establishment,  or  have  in  any  way  been  service 
able  to  my  country,  I  feel  that  I  am  more  than  compensated 
by  the  strong  testimony  I  have  received  from  my  fellow- 
citizens  of  their  approbation. 

Accept,  gentlemen,  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  very 
friendly  and  polite  manner  in  which  you  have  been  pleased 
to  communicate  to  me  the  vote  of  the  society,  and  my  best 
wishes  for  your  individual  health  and  happiness. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect,  gentlemen, 
Your  obedient,  humble  servant, 

ISAAC  HULL. 

(Addressed)  ARNOLD  WELLES,  WILLIAM  SULLIVAN, 
FRANCIS  J.  OLIVER,  HENRY  PURKITT,  Esquires. 

Decatur's  answer  is  more  concise  :  — 

NEW  YORK,  Jan.  8,  1813. 

GENTLEMEN,  —  Your  favor  of  the  10th  of  December, 
enclosing  the  vote  of  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society, 
has  been  received.  It  is  highly  gratifying  to  me  to  know, 
that,  in  the  discharge  of  my  official  duty,  I  have  been 
thought  to  merit  the  approbation  of  such  a  distinguished 
body.  I  beg  you,  gentlemen,  to  accept  the  assurance  of  my 
warmest  gratitude  for  the  very  flattering  sentiments  con 
tained  in  your  letter. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

STEPHEN  DECATUR. 

(Addressed)  ARNOLD  WELLES,  WILLIAM  SULLIVAN, 
FRANCIS  J.  OLIVER,  HENRY  J.  PURKITT,  Esquires. 

15 


114  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.         [jET.  34. 

The  following  is  the  reply  of  Commodore  Brain- 
bridge  to  a  similar  communication :  — 

UNITED-STATES  FRIGATE  "  CONSTITUTION," 
BOSTON  HARBOR,  Feb.  27,  1813. 

GENTLEMEN,  —  I  have  received  your  communication ,  en 
closing  the  vote  of  thanks  from  the  Washington  Benevolent 
Society  of  Massachusetts  to  myself,  and  the  officers  and  crew 
of  the  United-States  frigate  "  Constitution,"  for  capturing 
the  British  frigate  "  Java."  To  receive  the  applause  of  so 
numerous  and  highly  respectable  body  of  our  fellow-citizens 
for  having  done  merely  our  duty,  cannot  be  otherwise  than 
grateful  to  our  feelings,  and  will  stimulate  our  exertions  to 
future  deeds. 

For  the  friendly  sentiments,  gentlemen,  which  you,  as  a 
Committee,  have  expressed  towards  myself  and  other  officers 
of  the  navy,  please  to  accept  my  thanks,  and  best  wishes  for 
your  happiness. 

I  am  very  respectfully  yours, 

WILLIAM  BAINBRIDGE. 

(Addressed)  General  ARNOLD  WELLES,  WILLIAM 
SULLIVAN,  Esq.,  FRANCIS  OLIVER,  Esq.,  Colo 
nel  DANIEL  MESSENGER,  Dr.  JOHN  C.  WARREN. 

It  is  an  illustration  of  the  precarious  condition  of 
all  property  at  this  period,  that  no  safer  investment 
of  the  funds  of  the  society  could  be  found,  than  in  the 
notes  of  those  members  who  were  considered  perfectly 
responsible.  The  trust  was  declined  by  most  of  the 
members;  and  those  who  accepted  it,  did  so  from, a 
sense  of  duty,  and  to  their  own  loss:  so  that,  even 
under  the  management  of  one  of  the  ablest  financiers 
in  Boston,  a  large  sum  was  lost  by  the  unexpected 


1812.]  WASHINGTON    BENEVOLENT    SOCIETY.  115 

failure  of  a  firm  whose  notes  were  held  by  the  Trea 
surer. 

As  the  society  increased  in  numbers,  the  celebra 
tions  grew  more  and  more  brilliant  every  year. 
General  Welles,  Josiah  Quincy,  E.  T.  Channing, 
Timothy  Bigelow,  successively  delivered  the  ora 
tions. 

i 

The  most  brilliant  celebration,  and  probably  the 
last,  took  place  upon  the  anniversary  succeeding  the 
peace.  The  standard  of  the  rising  generation  was 
borne  and  supported  on  this  occasion  by  four  hundred 
youths  in  uniform,  decorated  with  wreaths  and  gar 
lands,  and  each  bearing  upon  his  breast,  as  on  pre 
vious  occasions,  an  elegantly  bound  copy  of  Wash 
ington's  Legacy.  The  address  was  delivered  by  the 
Rev.  Horace  Holley. 

The  society  held  together  a  few  years  longer ;  but 
the  dangers,  which  had  given  it  its  origin  and  sup 
ported  its  vigor,  had  disappeared.  Its  objects  seem 
fully  to  have  been  attained.  The  name,  if  not  the 
principles,  of  Washington,  grew,  and  still  grows,  in 
esteem  more  every  year.  Individuals  of  all  parties 
and  opinions  combine  to  render  it  respect;  and  to 
speak  lightly  of  his  name,  is  to  incur  universal  cen 
sure.  The  Constitution,  also,  has  been  held  in  honor ; 
has  stood  severe  shocks,  and  become  confirmed  by 
time.  The  principles  of  the  Washington  Benevolent 
Society  survived  the  dissolution  of  that  body,  and  lea 
vened  the  opinions  of  those  most  opposed  to  them. 

The  physicians  who  preceded  Dr.  J.  C.  Warren 


116  MUTUAL    ASSISTANCE.  [JEn.  34. 

and  Dr.  Jackson,  had  been  too  entirely  occupied  in 
the  daily  routine  of  professional  duties,  and  in  the 
all-absorbing  political  questions  of  the  day,  to  devote 
much  time  to  medical  literature. 

Now,  however,  a  new  era  in  the  medical  history  of 
New  England  had  arrived.  Dr.  Jackson  was  chosen 
Professor  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic,  in 
1812;  Dr.  Gorham  was  Adjunct  Professor  in  Che 
mistry  ;  and  Drs.  Bigelow  and  Walter  Channing 
received  professorships  a  little  later.  Probably  there 
can  nowhere  be  found  in  medical  biography  an 
instance  of  greater  unity  and  good  feeling,  than  pre 
vailed  among  these  gentlemen  for  the  whole  period 
of  their  connection  with  the  College ;  until,  in  fact, 
increasing  years,  and  the  claims  of  extensive  practice, 
caused  them,  one  by  one,  to  retire  from  the  labors  of 
the  chair. 

It  is  impossible  here  to  avoid  the  remark,  how  diffi 
cult  it  is  to  introduce  the  name  of  Warren,  without 
that  of  Dr.  Jackson  also,  in  all  these  efforts  for  the 
advancement  of  medical  science  !  It  is  difficult  to  say 
whether  the  warm-hearted  zeal  of  Dr.  Jackson,  or  the 
unwearied  energy  of  Dr.  Warren,  first  started  a  par 
ticular  project:  whichever  started  one,  the  other  was 
never  behind.  Had  they  acted  in  opposition,  how 
much  they  might  have  injured  each  other !  how 
entirely  their  efforts  for  the  public  good  would  have 
been  neutralized !  Acting  in  concert,  each  aided  to 
extend  the  business,  the  profits,  and  the  reputation  of 
the  other,  without  injury  to  himself. 


1812.]  NEW-ENGLAND    MEDICAL    JOURNAL.  117 

The  establishment  of  a  medical  journal  to  open  a 
vehicle  for  medical  improvement,  to  form  a  repository 
for  such  observations  as  might  be  made,  and  with  the 
design  also  to  aid  the  Medical  School ;  was  first  pro 
posed  by  Dr.  Warren.  Dr.  Jackson  agreeing,  they 
invited  Drs.  Gorham,  Bigelow,  and  Channing  to  unite 
with  them.  Each  contributed  papers  from  time  to 
time,  and  divided  the  labor  of  getting  up  the  numbers. 
It  was  published  quarterly.  This  work  was  very 
useful  to  the  Medical  School,  inspired  many  physi 
cians  with  a  taste  for  observation,  and  was  useful  as 
a  medical  history  of  the  times.  Drs.  Hayward,  Ware, 
and  Webster  afterwards  became  connected  with  it, 
and  formed  a  club,  which  met  every  month,  to 
read  and  judge  of  articles,  having  a  slight  supper 
to  aid  them  in  their  deliberations.  The  editorship 
finally  passed  entirely  into  the  hands  of  Drs.  Ware 
and  Channing.  The  subscription  was  small,  and  the 
work  hardly  paid  its  way.  It  was  continued,  how 
ever,  to  the  seventeenth  volume ;  and,  in  1828,  it  was 
on  the  point  of  dying  out,  when  it  was  proposed  to 
purchase  a  weekly  medical  journal  which  had  recently 
been  established,  and  unite  the  two. 

The  first  number  of  the  "  New-England  Medical 
Journal"  was  published  in  January,  1812. 

It  commences  with  "  Remarks  on  Angina  Pectoris," 
by  Dr.  John  Warren,  —  one  of  the  few  medical  pa 
pers  which  he  wrote.  The  next  is  a  very  valuable 
paper  upon  the  "Morbid  Effects  of  Dentition,"  by 
James  Jackson,  republished  in  the  "  Boston  Medical 


118  NEW-ENGLAND    MEDICAL    JOURNAL.  [>ET.  34. 

and  Surgical  Journal"  in  1828.  Then  follows  an 
article  on  Bichat,  probably  editorial. 

The  "  Cases  of  Apoplexy,  with  Dissections,"  by 
John  C.  Warren,  afford  two  instances  in  which  the 
stomach,  after  death,  was  found  filled  with  indiges 
tible  food,  and  evinced  some  appearances  of  inflam 
mation  in  this  organ,  with  marks  of  commencing 
digestion.  Dr.  Warren  urges  the  opinion,  that  the 
food  in  the  stomach  was  the  cause  of  death,  notwith 
standing  the  assertion  of  John  Bell,  "that  the  stomach 
never  affects  the  head."  He,  therefore,  is  in  favor 
of  emetics  in  cases  of  this  kind,  and,  in  the  second 
number  of  the  "  Journal,"  gives  a  case  furnished  by 
Dr.  Fisher,  of  Beverly;  in  which,  upon  exhibition 
of  an  emetic,  large  pieces  of  beef  were  thrown  up, 
and  the  man  recovered. 

He  says  in  conclusion,  "  When,  therefore,  we  find 
a  patient,  affected  with  this  disease,  soon  after  taking  a 
large  quantity  of  food,  and  whenever  we  find  him 
inclined  to  vomit,  an  emetic  should  be  administered. 
It  has  been  objected,  that  the  exertions  in  vomiting 
prevent  the  return  of  blood  from  the  brain,  and  thus 
increase  the  causes  of  rupture  in  the  blood-vessels. 
This  objection  is  well  founded,  but  not  of  sufficient 
magnitude  to  counterbalance  the  advantages  from 
evacuating  the  stomach ;  for  no  objection  can  be  of 
importance  enough  to  prevent  our  removing  the 
cause  of  the  disease:  and  we  can  hardly  conceive 
that  any  plan  of  cure  can  be  adequate,  that  does  not 
comprehend  the  removal  of  that  cause,  which  still 


1812.]  NEW-ENGLAND    MEDICAL    JOURNAL.  119 

exists,  and  must  still  operate.  This  difficulty  seems 
to  be  somewhat  lessened  by  the  fact  stated  by  writers 
on  this  subject,  that  hemorrhage  from  the  lungs  is 
not  aggravated,  but  even  sometimes  restrained,  by 
the  operation  of  an  emetic.  Now,  this  organ  is,  no 
doubt,  more  violently  agitated  and  compressed  by  the 
operation  of  an  emetic  than  the  brain.  It  is  well 
known^also,  that  certain  cases  of  uterine  hemorrhage 
are  cured,  and  that  abortions  are  sometimes  arrested, 
by  the  effects  of  this  remedy.  The  use  of  emetics 
does  not,  so  far  as  we  can  discover,  interfere  with  the 
practice  of  blood-letting." 

The  quotation  has  been  carried  to  this  length, 
because  it  aifords  a  specimen  of  sound  reasoning,  and 
shows  a  general  state  of  opinion  at  the  time,  that  we 
look  back  upon  with  some  surprise. 

John  Bell  inquires,  "  By  what  mechanism,  or  what 
nervous  sympathy ,  could  the  stomach  affect  the  head  ?  " 
And  the  manner  in  which  this  paper  was  received  by 
other  physicians  shows  that  the  connection  between 
the  stomach  and  brain  was  a  novel  idea;  and  it  is 
advanced  with  some  diffidence  by  the  writer  himself. 
This  must  have  been  a  few  years  before  dyspepsia 
became  fashionable.  Since  then,  the  responsibility  of 
the  stomach  for  headaches,  and  nearly  all  other 
diseases,  has  been  fully  recognized. 

Our  ancestors  ate  hearty  meals,  and  sometimes 
drank  heartily  too,  without  any  idea  that  what  they 
put  into  their  stomachs  would  give  them  headaches, 
fevers,  or  apoplexy.  Afterwards,  all  diseases  were 


120  NEW-ENGLAND    MEDICAL    JOURNAL.          [/Ex.  34. 

referred  to  the  stomach.  Whether  this  organ  had 
more  than  its  share  of  blame,  seems  to  be  a  disputed 
question ;  and,  of  late,  the  modern  term  "  neuralgia  " 
has  rather  superseded  "  dyspepsia "  in  popularity. 
The  nerves  of  the  stomach  have  lately  been  found  to 
become  irritable  and  capricious,  and  this,  full  as  often, 
when  the  organ  is  kept  free  from  repletion  as  when 
overloaded.  Yet  Dr.  Good  originally  made  only  two 
species  of  neuralgia,  —  neuralgia  of  the  face,  and 
neuralgia  of  the  foot.*  Now,  wherever  there  is  a 
nerve,  it  may  be  the  subject  of  nerve-ache.  "  Neural 
gia  "  is  as  satisfactory  a  term  as  "  dyspepsia."  To  tell 
a  patient  he  has  an  indigestion,  would  never  satisfy 
him:  and  to  say  that  a  disease  is  upon  the  nerves, 
implies  that  the  patient  is  nervous ;  meaning,  by 
a  very  strained  interpretation,  a  malade  imaginaire. 
But  the  term  "  neuralgia "  is  as  satisfying  as  "  dys 
pepsia." 

Dr.  Warren  always  through  life  continued  to  pay 
great  attention  to  the  state  of  the  stomach.  If  this 
was  kept  free,  and  not  compelled  to  undue  exertions, 
especially,  when  some  lesion  of  a  distant  part  pro 
duced  a  disturbance  in  the  system,  every  other  func 
tion  would  go  on  better.  The  majority  of  surgical 
diseases  are  the  cause  or  the  result  of  inflammation. 
The  fire  is  kept  up  and  increased,  by  stimulating  food, 
or  by  too  large  a  quantity. 

In  addition   to    every   prescription,   therefore,   he 

*  Nosology.  —  Dr.  Good  subsequently  added  neuralgia  mammas. 


1812.]  NEW-ENGLAND    MEDICAL    JOURNAL.  121 

seldom  failed  to  write  the  direction,  "  Abstain  from 
animal  food  and  butter."  He  made  articles  of  diet 
his  particular  study ;  and  often,  by  a  careful  regula 
tion  of  these  articles,  he  avoided  the  necessity  of 
prescribing  medicines.  The  custom  of  giving  little 
medicine  has  been  fully  introduced  of  late,  and  direc 
tions  for  low  diet  are  generally  enforced;  but  very 
few  physicians,  if  any,  have  made  so  much  of  a 
science  of  the  regulation  of  food,  and  the  composition 
of  articles  of  diet  for  the  sick  or  the  convalescent. 

In  the  first  volume  is  also  found  "  Cases  of  Organic 
Diseases  of  the  Heart  and  Lungs,"  in  which  Dr. 
Warren  continues  the  subject  of  the  treatise  before 
mentioned,  and  proposes  to  give  from  time  to  time  a 
few  of  the  numerous  cases  which  were  then  present 
ing  themselves.  He  gives  one  case  of  aneurism  of 
the  aorta,  one  of  opening  in  the  mitral  valve,  and 
one  case  of  disease  of  the  lungs.  To  the  second 
volume  he  contributed  "  Observations  on  some  Dis 
eased  Eyes,"  containing  cases  of  ophthalmia,  protru 
sion  of  the  iris,  &c.  This  latter  case  was  cured  by 
the  application  of  lunar  caustic  to  the  iris,  and  the 
sight  was  preserved. 

He  also  furnished  a  paper  of  collections  of  morbid 
anatomy,  designed  to  induce  others  to  furnish  obser 
vations  which  were  to  form  a  distinct  department  of 
the  "  Journal."  This  paper  contains  cases  of  inflam 
mation  of  the  pericardium  and  inflammation  of  the 
pleura.  The  first  case  described,  he  states,  is  precisely 
similar  to  that  of  Mirabeau,  who  died  of  the  same 

16 


122  NEW-ENGLAND    MEDICAL    JOURNAL.  [^T.  34. 

disease  (pericarditis),  and  whose  case  is  described  in 
the  same  number  of  the  "  Journal." 

In  the  third  volume,  he  gives  an  account  of  the 
appearances  on  examination  of  ancient  dislocations 
of  the  two  ossa  humeri  in  the  same  subject.  In  this 
case,  both  shoulders  had  been  dislocated  a  long  time 
previous  to  his  death. 

Some  further  observations  on  disorders  of  the  eyes, 
in  the  fifth  volume,  and,  in  the  twelfth  volume,  "  A 
Case  of  Aneurism  cured  by  Ligature  of  the  external 
Iliac  Artery,"  appear  to  be  all  to  which  he  has 
attached  his  name.  This,  of  course,  does  not  include 
editorial  articles. 

That  this  "  Journal "  was  ably  supported,  and  held 
a  high  rank,  cannot  be  doubted.  It  was,  however, 
not  a  profitable  concern ;  and,  as  the  editors  became 
more  engrossed  in  medical  practice,  they  had  less 
leisure  and  inclination  to  manage  it.  After  reaching 
the  seventeenth  volume,  says  Dr.  Warren,  "  We  got 
tired  of  it."  A  journal  of  lighter  form  and  more 
frequent  appearance  was  thought  better  suited  to 
the  wants  of  the  time.  The  "  London  Lancet " 
had  given  this  form  great  popularity.  The  "  New- 
England  Medical  Journal "  was  continued  until  1828, 
and  then  merged  in  the  "  Boston  Medical  and  Sur 
gical  Journal." 

The  following  letters,  received  by  Dr.  Warren  in 
the  course  of  this  year,  are  of  considerable  interest. 

The  first,  from  President  Kirkland  of  Harvard 
College,  shows  the  manner  in  which  medical  stu- 


1812.]  LETTERS    FROM    FRIENDS.  123 

dents  were  admitted.  Those  who  had  not  received 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  or  of  Master  of  Arts  were 
required,  as  at  present,  to  pass  an  examination  in 
Latin  and  natural  philosophy  ;  and  it  appears  to  have 
been  a  question  at  this  time  for  the  President  to 
decide  by  whom  this  examination  should  be  made. 

Dr.  Francis  Moore  and  Dr.  Thomas  Sewall  took 
their  medical  degrees  in  1812.  As  they  had  not 
previously  received  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  or  Mas 
ter,  they  were  required  to  pass  an  examination  in  the 
manner  mentioned.  Dr.  Sewall  became  Professor  of 
Anatomy  and  Physiology  in  Columbia  College.  He 
practised  in  Massachusetts  long  enough  to  become  a 
member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society;  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Washington,  where  he  prac 
tised  with  great  success  until  his  death  in  1845.  Dr. 
Moore  became  also  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society,  but  afterwards  removed  to  the  State 
of  New  York.  The  degree  of  M.D.  appears  to  have 
been  first  conferred  by  Harvard  College  only  the  year 
previous  (1811).  Before  that  time,  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Medicine  only  was  given.  The  vacant 
professorship  was  promptly  filled  by  the  choice  of 
Dr.  James  Jackson,  who  occupied  the  chair  until 
1836. 

The  work  of  Dr.  Wistar,  to  which  reference  is 
made  in  his  letters,  is  the  treatise  on  Anatomy,  which 
was  adopted  as  a  text-book  by  the  Medical  Faculty 
of  Harvard,  and  used  for  so  many  years  as  the  main 
work  for  students  in  that  branch  of  study.  The 


124  LETTER    FROM    PRESIDENT    KIRKLAND.          [^Er.  34. 

letters  of  Sir  Astley  Cooper  are  fine  examples  of  the 
forcible  brevity  of  his  style,  and  evince  the  esteem 
and  interest  which  he  felt  for  his  former  pupil. 

The  letter  of  Mr.  Harrison,  besides  his  humorous 
allusion  to  the  danger  of  witnessing  military  parades, 
illustrates  two  great  objects  which  occupied  the  atten 
tion  of  scientific  men  and  inventors  at  that  period. 
The  first  was  the  discovery  of  perpetual  motion ;  for 
which  a  high  reward  was  offered,  notwithstanding  the 
declaration  of  the  most  competent  judges  as  to  its 
impossibility.  One  of  great  ingenuity,  whether  the 
same  or  not  as  that  referred  to  in  the  letter,  was  put 
in  operation  in  this  neighborhood.  It  for  some  time 
defied  investigation,  but  was  eventually  found  to  be 
worked  by  an  agent  concealed  in  a  cellar.  The  other 
object  was  a  method  of  warming  the  large  cold 
houses  of  the  time.  Furnaces  were  not  introduced 
until  many  years  after ;  and,  as  wood  became  scarce, 
the  large  fireplaces,  with  large  open-mouthed  chim 
neys,  became  entirely  insufficient.  After  many  inven 
tions  of  various  kinds,  a  soapstone  fireplace  was 
constructed,  with  a  back  sloping  forwards,  so  as  to 
allow  very  little  room  for  the  escape  of  heat;  and 
this  principle  has  been  adopted  in  all  modern  fire 
places  and  grates. 

CAMBRIDGE,  June  13,  1812. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  I  consent  to  the  examination  of  Messrs. 
Moore  and  Sewall  at  such  time  as  the  Faculty  determine, 
and  in  such  manner.  I  need  not  be  present.  I  am  satisfied 
with  the  Latin  of  both,  and  the  natural  philosophy  of  Dr. 


1812.]  LETTERS    FROM    DR.    WISTAR.  125 

Sewall.  Dr.  Moore's  natural  philosophy  I  shall  be  satisfied 
for  you  to  examine  and  determine. 

The  Faculty  of  the  University  of  Cambridge  is  without 
any  Professor  of  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic. 

Dr. was  removed  by  the  corporation  on  the  20th  of 

May ;  and,  of  course,  he  ceases  to  be  Professor  from  that 
time :  though,  if  the  vote  of  removaf  shall  be  disallowed  by 
the  Overseers,  he  will  then  be  in  office  again. 

With  esteem, 

Your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

JOHN  T.  KIRKLAND, 

President  Harvard  College. 

Dr.  J.  C.  WARREN,  Anatomical  Professor  Anatomy 
and  Surgery,  and  Secretary  Faculty  of  Medicine. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  I  beg  your  friendly  acceptance  of  the  first 
volume  of  my  publication  on  Anatomy,  which  I  cannot  offer 
you  without  accompanying  it  with  a  request  that  you  will 
look  with  great  indulgence  on  a  work  which  has  been  com 
posed  under  the  pressure  of  a  great  deal  of  business  not 
immediately  connected  with  it.  Permit  me  also  to  beg  that 
your  father  and  yourself  will  favor  me  with  your  advice 
respecting  its  future  improvement.  Any  hint  of  that  nature 
will  confer  a  real  obligation  on,  dear  sir, 

Your  sincere  friend  and  humble  servant, 

C.  WISTAR. 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  17, 1812. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  There  is  a  gentleman  in  Boston  of  such  a 
description,  that  I  am  certain  you  will  derive  great  pleasure 
from  his  acquaintance.  Mr.  Correa  is  a  native  of  Portugal, 
who  has  passed  a  great  part  of  his  life  in  the  society  of  the 
most  distinguished  philosophical  characters  of  Europe,  par 
ticularly  those  of  England  and  France.  After  a  short 


126      LETTERS  FROM  SIR  ASTLEY  COOPER.    [^T.  34. 

interview,  you  will  understand  his  character ;  and  I  need 
say  nothing  further,  excepting  that  he  left  us  in  company 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dashkoff,  who  are  also  very  interesting 
strangers.  If  they  should  not  be  in  Boston,  you  will  proba 
bly  hear  of  Mr.  Correa  from  Captain  Hull ;  as  he  came  to 
Boston  with  that  illustrious  officer. 

By  one  of  the  medical  students  who  left  this  for  Boston 
last  spring,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  sending  you  the  first 
volume  of  the  anatomical  publication  in  which  I  have  been 
engaged.  Please  to  favor  me  with  a  note  to  say  whether  it 
arrived  or  not,  that  I  may  send  another  in  case  you  have 
not  received  it.  I  am  interested  in  this  request ;  for  I  hope 
to  be  favored  with  some  advice  and  observations  from  your 
father  and  yourself  on  the  subject. 

We  are  much  pleased  here  with  your  periodical  work,  — 
the  "  New-England  Journal."  The  talents  and  the  infor 
mation  which  are  displayed  in  it  will  commend  it  to  the 
respect  and  attention  of  all  well-informed  physicians,  and 
must  establish  its  reputation. 

Please  to  assure  your  worthy  father  of  the  continuance  of 
my  sincere  regard  and  best  wishes,  and  believe  me 
Very  truly  yours, 

C.  WISTAR. 

PHILADELPHIA,  Sept.  12,  1812* 
Dr.  WARREN,  Jun. 

MY  DEAR  SIR,  —  This  will  be  given  you  by  Mr.  Gary, 
who  has  a  small  hydrocele,  for  which  I  wish  him  to  consult 
you.  I  have  punctured  it  several  times,  as  it  was  too  small 
for  injection  ;  and,  if  it  should  remain  small,  perhaps  you 
will  think  that  the  best  mode  of  treatment. 

I  am  glad  to  see  you  so  zealous  in  the  pursuit  of  science, 
and  hope  the  amor  nummi  will  never  smother  the  love  of 


1812.]  LETTER    FROM    MR.    HARRISON.  127 

your  profession  as  a  science ;  for  it  is  that  rock  on  winch 
medical  men  are  shipwrecked  in  England. 
With  every  good  wish,  believe  me 

Always  yours  truly, 

ASTLEY  COOPER. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  Mr.  P.  appears  to  me  to  labor  under  a  mala- 
die  imaginaire,  rather  than  any  important  disease. 

He  has  unpleasant  feelings  about  him,  arising  not  from 
the  use,  but  from  the  abuse,  of  mercury ;  and  it  will  be  a 
long  time  before  he  gets  rid  of  them. 

I  should  apprehend  he  would  find  much  relief  from  the 
decoction  sarsaparillas  and  soda  preparata,  with  an  occa 
sional  aperient. 

I  feel  much  gratified  in  seeing  the  result  of  your  progress 
in  science,  and  of  hearing  of  your  welfare  in  your  pro 
fession. 

I  am  yours  truly, 

ASTLEY  COOPER. 

MY  DEAR  SIR,  —  I  received,  about  three  weeks  after 
date,  your  letter  of  the  1st  instant.  The  packet  for  Dorsey 
and  letter  for  Edwin  were  immediately  sent ;  and  I've  since 
had  an  interview  with  the  latter,  urged  expedition,  and 
tendered  payment,  as  you  suggested.  The  engraving  will 
not  be  completed  before  March  next.  I  found  them  busy 
engraving  the  likeness  of  Hanson,  of  Charles  Street. 

Had  you  recollected  our  positions  the  day  of  the  Cadets' 
exhibition,  independent  of  their  firing  at  an  angle  of  forty- 
five,  we  were  not  exposed.  The  Horse  Marines,  to  which 
corps  I  have  the  safety  to  belong,  are  always  cautious  :  and 
I  took  good  care  to  watch  closely  their  marching  and  coun 
ter-marching,  and  to  constantly  wing  them  ;  bearing  in 


128  INCREASE    OF    BUSINESS.  [^E'r.  28-37. 

mind,  as  I  always  do  on  these  great  occasions,  that  one  of 
my  precious  fellow-citizens,  who  doted  on  military  exhibi 
tions,  at  one  of  them  on  our  Common,  had  a  ramrod  gently 
passed  through  his  g-ts. 

I  take  it  for  granted  your  philosophers  are  much  occupied 
with  Redheffer's  machine.  Here  'tis  almost  the  only  topic  ; 
and  all  our  scientific,  practical,  and  mechanical  men  are 
decidedly  of  opinion  it  is  a  self-moving  machine ;  and,  if  a 
deception,  the  deception  cannot  be  discovered,  as  he  took  it 
down  piece  by  piece,  and  put  it  up  again,  in  the  presence  of 
twenty  scientific  and  well-informed  men.  Such  is  the 
impression  here,  that  our  Councils  have  appointed  a  Com 
mittee  to  wait  on  him  to  ascertain  if  it  can  be  applied  to 
our  water-works,  and  to  buy  the  right.  On  the  other  hand, 
all  our  book-philosophers  totally  deny  it,  but  admit  it  is  a 
most  uncommonly  ingenious  deception.  But  I  take  it  for 
granted,  Dr.  Dorsey  has  given  you  all  this,  and  a  minute 
description  of  the  machine. 

As  soon  as  the  weather  has  become  cold  enough  with  you 
to  test  your  fireplace,  I  hope  to. receive  your  opinion  of  its 
use  ;  also  your  opinion  of  Mr.  Mason's,  and  of  the  soap- 
stone  stoves,  such  as  there  is  one  in  use  in  your  North- 
American  Insurance  Office.  To  your  good  wife  I  can  only 
say,  I  trust  she  is  well,  and  to  tender  her  our  affectionate 
regards,  and  to  the  family. 

Very  truly  yours, 

GEO.  HARRISON. 

PHILADELPHIA,  Nov.  28,  1812. 

In  1806,  three  years  after  his  marriage,  he  has 
noted  his  own  business  as  much  increased,  and  having 
become  very  respectable.  He  was  now,  as  we  have 
seen,  in  addition  to  his  daily  routine  of  medical  and 


1806-15.]  INCREASE    OF    BUSINESS.  129 

surgical  practice  and  operations,  aiding  his  father  in 
the  demonstrations  and  lectures  at  Cambridge,  giving 
private  demonstrations  in  Marlborough  Street,  and 
taking  an  active  part  in  political  and  military  affairs. 
He  was  contributing  occasionally  to  the  papers  of  the 
Medical  Society,  and  engaged  with  Dr.  Jackson  in 
publishing  their  communications.  He  was  an  active 
co-editor  of  the  "  Medical  Journal ;  "  and,  for  lighter 
occupation,  aiding  in  the  labors  of  the  Anthology 
Club,  or  preparing  the  chemical  experiments,  and 
lecturing  on  human  and  comparative  anatomy  and 
physiology  in  the  Society  of  Natural  Philosophy.  At 
the  same  time,  his  literary  employments  were  occa 
sionally  varied  by  a  little  light  skirmishing  in  the 
public  papers,  in  which  the  members  of  the  private 
Society  of  Medical  Improvement  engaged  with  an 
adversary  whose  ready  pen,  and  powers  of  ridicule, 
had  hitherto  met  with  much  success. 

His  father  continued   to   practise   pretty  actively 
until  his  last  sickness  in  1815. 


17 


130  DEATH    OF    DR.    JOHN    WARREN.  [^T.  37. 


CHAPTER   X. 

DR.  JOHN  WARREN.  — MASSACHUSETTS  MEDICAL  COLLEGE.  — PRO 
FESSIONAL  EMINENCE.  —  OPERATIONS.  —  LETTERS.  —  INVITATION 
TO  PHILADELPHIA.  — SUMMER  EXCURSIONS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

IN  1815,  the  beginning  of  April,  died  my  father,  Dr.  John 
Warren.  He  served  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution ;  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  Medical  School  at  Cambridge ;  was 
for  a  long  time  an  eloquent  lecturer ;  and  the  principal,  it 
might  be  said  almost  exclusive,  practitioner  of  surgery  in 
New  England.  He  was  President  of  the  Medical,  Humane, 
Agricultural,  and  other  societies.  He  taught  temperance  by 
precept  and  example  ;  having  scarcely,  through  the  whole 
of  his  life,  drank  wine  or  stimulants.  He  wrote  very  little, 
on  account  of  the  excessive  business  which  he  undertook  ; 
for,  being  the  most  popular  practitioner  in  Boston  of  his 
time,  he  was  occupied  day  and  night.  He  went  out  to  the 
very  last  week  of  his  life ;  and  the  pleuritic  disease  which 
caused  his  death  was  attributed  to  his  going  out  in  the  night. 

Many  of  the  last  years  of  his  life  were  disturbed  by  his 
lending  his  name  as  an  indorser.  This  involved  him  in  a 
vast  purchase  of  eastern  land,  which  required  great  atten 
tion,  and  caused  him  great  anxiety.  But  for  this  occurrence, 
his  property  would  have  been  nearly  doubled. 

Although  I  was  well  established  in  business  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  the  loss  of  his  advice  and  aid  was  very  much 
felt ;  as  I  had  from  that  time,  for  many  years,  no  one  to 
aid  me  in  consultation  in  difficult  surgical  cases.  All  my 


1813.]  MASSACHUSETTS    MEDICAL    COLLEGE.  131 

operations  were,  of  course,  to  be  done  on  my  own  responsi 
bility  ;  and  this  with  the  weight  of  lectures,  a  large  private 
practice,  and  some  literary  and  scientific  pursuits,  which 
together  constituted  a  mass  of  labor  that  sometimes  seemed 
to  be  insupportable. 


In  this  year  was  built  the  first  Medical  College, 
situated  in  Mason  Street,  the  funds  for  which  had 
been  obtained  principally  by  the  exertions  of  Dr. 
Jackson  and  Dr.  Warren.  It  was  opened  the  suc 
ceeding  year.  Up  to  this  time,  the  lectures  had 
been  delivered  in  the  hall  over  Mr.  White's  apothe 
cary's  store,  at  49,  Marlborough  Street. 

Dr.  Warren  was  now  chosen  Professor  of  Anatomy 
and  Surgery  in  his  father's  place,  and  stood  facile 
princeps  among  the  surgeons  of  New  England,  as 
did  Dr.  Jackson  among  the  medical  practitioners ; 
Dr.  Jackson  having  early  abandoned  the  practice  of 
surgery.  The  elder  Dr.  Warren,  as  has  been  said 
above,  had  a  more  extensive  practice  than  any  one 
ever  had  before  in  Boston,  or  will  ever  be  likely  to 
have  again.  The  number  of  medical  men  has  so 
much  increased,  and  their  qualifications  are  so  much 
more  equal  than  formerly,  that  there  cannot  be  any 
monopoly.  It  is  not  probable  that  any  one  will  ever 
again  have  so  much  surgical  practice  as  his  son ;  or, 
at  least,  have  so  exclusively  the  commr  d  of  all  the 
most  important  surgical  operations. 

There  are  now  more  surgeons  of  equal  claims  and 
equal  standing,  and  the  relation  of  physician  and  pa- 


132  PROFESSIONAL    EMINENCE.  [^E'f.  37. 

tient  has  changed.  The  latter  no  longer  feels  bound 
to  adhere  to  his  physician  or  surgeon,  but  acts  in 
accordance  with  the  direction  of  St.  Paul,  "  Prove 
all  things."  Nor,  in  like  manner,  does  the  practi 
tioner  feel  bound  to  sacrifice  himself,  his  health,  or 
his  comforts,  even  his  life,  to  his  patient.  The  con 
nection  was  formerly  like  a  close  family  tie ;  and  it 
was  a  necessary  consequence,  that  the  attachment  to 
the  father  descended  to  the  son.  Dr.  Warren's  con 
nection  with  the  College  and  the  Hospital  made  him 
widely  known,  and  gave  him  important  advantages 
over  competitors.  These  advantages,  though  very 
great,  would  have  been  unavailable,  had  they  not 
been  combined  with  unwearied  industry  and  devotion 
to  his  profession. 

It  does  not  appear  that  he  had  any  natural  bias  for 
his  profession;  for  he  informs  us  that  he  spent  one 
year  in  deciding  upon  it.  The  second  year,  he  speaks 
of  it  in  his  letters  as  time  lost  in  the  pretended  study 
of  medicine.  The  dry  reading  of  medical  books, 
without  hospital  visits,  was  not  to  his  taste ;  and,  if 
he  visited  patients  with  his  father,  he  was  not  likely 
to  be  much  interested,  especially  in  visits  so  rapidly 
made ;  neither  could  the  "  medicine-room  "  have 
been  much  more  attractive  to  a  cultivated  taste. 

But,  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Europe,  he 
determined  to  devote  heart  and  soul  to  his  pursuit. 
As  we  have  seen,  he  soon  became  deeply  interested 
in  operations,  dissections,  and  lectures.  Then  he 
formed  the  resolution  which  he  adhered  to  through 


1815.]  DEVOTION    TO    HIS    PROFESSION.  133 

life,  —  never  to  devote  a  moment  to  any  amusement 
that  had  not  some  useful  object.  From  the  com 
mencement  of  his  practice,  he  gave  himself  up  en 
tirely  to  his  profession,  and  allowed  himself  no  other 
recreation  than  science  or  literature  afforded. 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  his  father,  written  from 
Paris  in  1801,  he  says, — 

"  I  hate  study.  Nothing  but  strong  stimulus  would 
have  ever  impelled  me  to  it.  And  I  suppose,  that, 
could  I  lull  my  conscience  with  any  good  pretence, 
I  should  relinquish  it,  and  become  as  idle  as  ever." 
In  another  place  he  says, — 

"  You  had  sufficient  stimulus  to  study  to  overcome 
all  obstacles.  I  require  more,  but  have  less." 

In  these  words,  we  find  an  important  clew  to  the 
character  of  the  writer,  and  the  secret  of  his  industry 
through  life.  It  was  not  the  result  of  early  habits  of 
application.  It  was  not  like  that  of  the  horse  at  the 
mill,  the  clerk  at  his  desk,  the  operative  at  his  daily 
toils,  or  the  student  at  his  book.  It  was  not  the 
result  of  habit,  of  necessity,  or  of  love  for  the  pursuit 
he  had  chosen.  It  consisted  in  a  constant  series  of 
mental  efforts.  Hence  the  wideness  and  variety 
of  his  pursuits,  and  the  earnestness  with  which  he 
plunged  into  every  labor,  as  if  that  one  was  the  most 
important  in  life.  Had  fate  fixed  him  to  a  mer 
chant's  desk,  it  would  have  required  either  the  stimu 
lus  of  poverty  or  an  intense  love  of  gain  to  keep  him 
there. 

Having  resolutely  determined,  on  his  arrival  in  Eu- 


134  DEVOTION    TO    HIS    PROFESSION.  [^E'f.  37. 

rope,  to  devote  himself,  heart  and  soul,  to  medical 
improvement,  and  made  it  an  absolute  rule  never  to 
waste  time  in  any  useless  amusement,  he  acquired 
a  fondness  for  his  profession ;  and,  after  his  return 
from  Europe,  he  sought  out  constantly  objects  of 
interest  and  employment.  In  after-life,  he  had  ac 
quired  a  positive  fear  of  idleness ;  and  his  taste  for 
surgery,  surgical  operations,  and  anatomical  dissec 
tions  and  preparations,  had  become  very  strong.  The 
examination  of  a  morbid  tumor  in  his  private  dissect 
ing-room,  or  the  manufacture  of  a  beautiful  specimen, 
were  as  truly  recreations  with  him,  as  a  visit  to  the 
theatre,  or  a  game  of  whist,  to  others. 

But,  in  addition  to  this  excessive  industry,  Dr. 
Warren  possessed  that  temperament  or  power  in 
which  genius  and  talent  consist,  —  the  faculty  and 
habit  of  throwing  himself  into  his  subject,  whatever 
it  was  he  engaged  in,  with  his  whole  mind  and 
strength.  We  rarely  find  so  much  tenacity  of 
purpose  and  constancy,  combined  with  so  much  de 
votion  to  the  particular  object  on  hand.  This  gave 
him  his  power  as  an  able  writer  and  interesting  lec 
turer. 

By  those  who  wished  to  depreciate  his  claims  as  a 
surgeon,  and  who  could  not  deny  his  success,  it  was 
said  that  he  was  a  mere  expert  operator,  and  other 
wise  destitute  of  surgical  skill.  This  remark  was 
once  made  under  rather  peculiar  circumstances. 
Some  twenty  years  since,  on  returning  in  the  even 
ing  from  a  public  celebration  at  Cambridge,  in 


1815.]  MODE    OF    OPERATING.  135 

which  Dr.  Warren  had  been  one  of  the  speakers, 
about  twelve  of  Dr.  Warren's  near  relatives  (in  fact, 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  with  their  children)  occupied 
an  omnibus  with  two  persons,  —  one  a  young  phy 
sician  from  the  South ;  the  other  a  gentleman  of 
property  in  Boston,  well  known  to  the  family,  though 
they  were  unknown  to  him.  A  discussion  between 
the  two  ensued,  which  lasted  nearly  the  whole  dis 
tance,  principally  in  depreciation  of  the  claims  of  Dr. 
Warren,  much  to  the  edification  of  the  family ;  the 
young  medical  gentleman  allowing  only  the  manual 
dexterity  of  the  surgeon. 

This,  however,  was  the  least  of  his  qualifications. 
He  did  not  aim  at  dexterity ;  at  least,  if  celerity  is  a 
proof  of  dexterity.  "  I  do  not  operate  by  time,"  he 
said  to  a  spectator  who  took  out  his  watch  to  ascer 
tain  the  length  of  an  operation :  "  you  may  put  up 
your  watch,  Dr.  ." 

Operations  are  said  to  be  the  opprobrium  of  sur 
gery.  None  paid  greater  attention  to  this  maxim 
than  Dr.  Warren.  His  higher  skill  was  in  detecting 
disease,  and  in  treating  it  both  before  and  after  an 
operation.  He  perceived  its  seat  with  an  eagle  eye ; 
and  when,  in  after-years,  his  sight  was  partially  im 
paired,  still,  by  the  delicacy  of  his  touch,  he  could 
often  discover  the  evil  that .  lay  concealed  from  the 
eyes  of  others. 

It  was  said  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  by  an  Ame 
rican  physician  settled  in  Paris,  that,  if  he  was  obliged 
to  undergo  a  surgical  operation,  he  would  come  to 


136  MODE    OF    OPERATING.  [^T.  37. 

Boston  to  have  it  performed,  he  had  so  much  more 
confidence  in  the  after-treatment.  Other  Americans, 
in  fact,  all  who  had  followed  the  surgeons  of  the 
French  hospitals,  would  have  said  the  same.  They 
operated  beautifully,  but  the  test  of  cure  was  wanting. 
The  French  surgeons  declared  that  healing  by  the 
first  intention  (which,  as  has  been  before  said,  Dr. 
Warren  introduced  into  New  England)  was  out  of  the 
question  in  their  climate. 

Dr.  Warren  never  made  up  his  mind  to  perform  an 
operation  until  all  probable  means  of  cure  had  been 
fully  tried.  The  patient,  therefore,  might  always  feel 
full  confidence  that  he  would  never  perform  or  advise 
one  unless  it  was  absolutely  necessary.  Having  deter 
mined  to  operate,  he  prepared  himself  deliberately 
for  it  by  reflecting  in  his  own  mind  upon  the  method 
required ;  putting  on  paper  a  list  of  the  contingencies 
that  might  occur,  and  of  every  instrument  or  article 
that  might  be  wanted.  In  important  cases,  he  re 
sorted  to  authorities ;  and  often  practised  the  opera 
tion  beforehand  in  the  dissecting-room.  Thus  it  was 
with  him  always  a  matter  of  study,  greater  or  less, 
according  to  the  importance  of  the  case.  He  took 
pains  also  to  avoid  every  thing  which  might  interfere 
with  the  steadiness  of  his  hand,  the  delicacy  of  his 
manual  tact,  or  any  thing  that  might  disturb  his  mind 
or  distract  his  thoughts. 

He  proceeded  to  the  operation  with  the  greatest 
deliberation  and  caution ;  taking  care  to  be  certain  of 
the  nature  of  every  part  or  texture  before  he  divided 


1815-18.]  UNREMITTED    EXERTIONS.  137 

it;  assuring  himself  at  every  step  that  he  knew 
exactly  where  he  was.  The  slightest  unfavorable 
change,  either  during  the  operation  or  afterwards, 
was  seen  by  him  instantaneously.  This,  at  least,  was 
the  case  in  after-years.  The  operation  performed,  he 
proceeded  to  bandaging,  which  with  him  was  also  a 
science.  Perhaps  one  of  the  greatest  improvements 
which  he  adopted  was  in  the  little  use  made  of  the 
needle  in  closing  wounds.  By  the  use  of  adhesive 
straps,  and  skilful  bandaging,  these  were  often  dis 
pensed  with;  and  thus  the  unpleasant  necessity 
avoided  of  making  additional  painful  wounds,  and 
leaving  a  foreign  substance  to  create  irritation.  Great 
use  seems  formerly  to  have  been  made  of  the  nee 
dle  ;  and,  even  now,  patients  or  their  friends,  in 
the  country  at  least,  constantly  speak  of  sewing  up 
a  cut  as  they  would  of  mending  a  rent  in  an  article 
of  dress. 

Thus  it  may  be  seen,  to  the  satisfaction  of  every 
one,  that  the  position  which  Dr.  Warren  now  occu 
pied  was  obtained  and  held,  in  the  first  place,  by  his 
diligent  and  earnest  preparation  in  the  study  of  his 
profession,  and  by  availing  himself  to  the  utmost  of 
the  very  great  advantages  which  he  had  enjoyed 
abroad;  in  the  second  place,  by  his  continued  and 
unremitting  efforts,  not  only  to  keep  his  ground,  but 
to  make  progress,  and  advance  his  science.  These 
exertions  were  never  remitted  to  the  last  days  of  Jiis 
medical  career.  If  there  were  any  who  supposed 
that  he  fell  easily  and  naturally  into  his  father's  place, 

18 


138  LETTER  FROM  DR.  ROOTS.         [^ET.  40. 

with  little  exertion  of  his  own,  or  that  he  held  his 
position  without  talents  of  a  high  order,  and  unwea 
ried  and  exclusive  devotion  to  his  profession,  they 
were  utterly  ignorant  of  his  labors.  The  chair  of 
anatomy  and  surgery  had  no  soft  cushion  in  his  or 
his  father's  time. 

Dr.  Warren  appears  now  to  have  been  fully  occu 
pied  with  his  lectures,  hospital-visits,  and  operations, 
and  his  private  practice.  He  does  not  seem  to  have 
published  much  for  the  next  five  years ;  but  he 
always  found  time  every  day  or  evening,  at  least 
one  hour,  for  writing. 

The  following  very  pleasant  and  entertaining  letter 
from  Dr.  Roots,  his  fellow-student  in  London,  was 
received  in  the  early  part  of  this  year:  — 

MY  DEAR  OLD  FRIEND  WARREN  !  —  On  looking  over  some 
papers,  I  find  your  last  letter,  dated  March,  1816 ;  and, 
having  written  you  a  long  answer  very  soon  after,  I  am 
disposed  to  think  you  never  received  it.  Therefore  I  will  try 
my  luck  again ;  and  will  begin  by  hoping  you  and  your 
dear  wife  are  well,  —  I  say  dear  wife,  though  she  is  unknown 
to  me ;  but  I  feel  a  regard  for  her,  in  consequence  of  her 
being  dear  to  you,  I  even  feel  a  sensation  bordering  on  pa 
rental  love  for  your  children ;  and  though  you,  perhaps,  will 
say  this  is  a  forced  and  romantic  feeling,  I  encourage  it  as 
one  that  comes  from  the  best  and  warmest  corner  of  my 
heart,  where  you,  my  old  boy,  always  had  a  berth  from  our 
first  acquaintance,  —  well,  I  hope  you  are  all  as  well  In  this 
new  year  1818  as  you  were  in  1816,  and  that  you  are  going 
on  as  successfully  in  your  professional  pursuits  as  you  can 
wish.  I  should  like  much  to  have  a  look  at  your  old  phiz. 


1818.]  LETTER    FROM    DR.    ROOTS.  139 

I  wonder  whether  you  have  the  same  solemn,  serious  gravity 
that  formerly  sat  upon  your  countenance,  and  which  I  was 
often  wont  to  put  to  flight  by  some  of  my  volatile  nonsense. 
And  yet,  though  we  were  such  different  men,  we  always  hit 
it  well  together.  Poor  Senter  !  I  am  not  surprised  at  his 
end.  I  think  he  was  a  little  too  impetuous  in  his  manner  ; 
and  though  his  heart  might  be  good,  yet  it  is  necessary  that 
the  outworks  of  the  citadel  should  be  kept  in  good  repair, 
if  we  wish  the  keep  itself  to  be  respected.  I  have  been 
during  four  or  five  months,  the  last  summer,  in  a  very  bad 
state  of  health,  in  consequence  of  calculus  forming  in  the 
bladder ;  but,  by  its  showing  itself  palpably  in  the  beginning 
of  its  formation,  with  the  assistance  of  our  old  friend  Astley 
Cooper,  I  was  enabled  to  get  it  away  by  gradually  dilating 
the  neck  of  the  bladder  with  very  large  bougies,  and  thus 
succeeded  in  dislodging  so  inveterate  a  foe.  ...  About 
nine  years  ago,  Astley  Cooper  cut  my  father  for  the  stone  ; 
which  operation  succeeded  wonderfully,  and  my  father  has 
never  had  a  symptom  of  it  since.  But  he  has  never  tasted 
fermented  liquor  since  ;  and,  as  this  is  an  hereditary  disease, 
I  am  upon  the  same  regimen  of  restraint,  and  never,  by  any 
chance,  touch  a  drop  of  any  fermented  liquor.  Indeed,  in 
my  father's  case,  this  abstinence  from  all  such  fluids  has  pro 
duced  the  happiest  result ;  for,  since  he  has  thus  left  them  off, 
he  has  never  had  one  attack  of  gout ;  and,  before,  he  never 
went  six  months  without  a  severe  fit  of  gout.  Old  Cooper, 
you  have  heard,  I  dare  say,  is  dead.  Astley  is  quite  well, 
and  continues  daily  adding  to  his  fame.  He  lately  had  an 
opportunity  of  doing  what  no  other  man  would  dare  do ; 
which  was  tying  the  aorta  of  a  man  just  before  its  bifurca 
tion,  in  consequence  of  an  aneurism  of  the  internal  iliac. 
He  cut  down  the  linea  alba ;  groped  his  ponderous  paws  to 
the  very  vessel  in  question.  Having  shoved  the  intestines  out 


140  LETTER    FROM    DR.    ROOTS.  [l&l.  40. 

of  his  way,  he  passed  a  ligature,  and  the  patient  lived  five 
days  afterwards ;  and,  as  Cooper  says,  only  died  then  in 
consequence  of  mortification,  and  not  from  his  tying  the 
aorta.  He  is  now  (woe  to  all  stray  dogs  and  cats  that  fall 
in  his  way  !  )  trying  the  same  experiment  on  all  four-footed 
animals  that  chance  throws  in  his  dangerous  way ;  and,  I 
dare  say,  he  sometinles  longs  to  give  a  tie  to  one  of  his  two- 
legged  sufferers.  I  tell  him,  he  has  only  now  to  cut  off  a 
patient's  head,  and  keep  him  alive  a  few  hours,  so  that  he 
may  say  he  only  died  from  some  little  accidental  circum 
stance,  hut  not  from  the  simple  operation  of  dividing  the 
head  from  the  body,  and  then  he  will  be  more  than  human. 
However,  he  certainly  is  a  most  useful  man  :  he  leaves  no 
thing  to  theory,  but  brings  it  all  to  practice,  when  opportu 
nity  offers ;  and  this  is  the  only  way  to  improve  the  science. 
Clive  goes  on  very  soberly,  and  his  son  lectures  with 
Cooper.  He  is  in  a  bad  state  of  health,  —  threatened  with 
consumption.  Austin,  the  West  Indian,  having  realized  a 
great  fortune  in  Demarara,  has  come  over  to  this  country 
to  settle  as  a  private  gentleman.  He  spent  a  day  or  two 
with  me  lately.  I  believe,  just  now,  he  is  gone  on  a  visit 
to  Paris.  My  wife  is  well,  and  is  the  same  good,  endearing 
creature  she  was  fifteen  years  ago,  when  I  married  her; 
and  I  can  safely  say,  I  love  her  now  more  deeply  than  I 
ever  did  at  that  young  and  sensitive  period.  I  have 
only  the  same  boy  and  girl  I  told  you  of  before.  I  dare 
say,  you  have  added  to  your  five  since  you  wrote.  Direct 
your  next  to  Dr.  William  Roots,  Surbiton,  Kingston  on 
Thames.  Both  my  father  and  mother  are  living  and  well : 
the  brother  (Charles),  the  proctor,  is  dead.  He  died  at  St. 
Lucie,  in  the  West  Indies,  where  he  had  got  a  good  appoint 
ment  ;  but  the  climate  killed  him.  I  never  got  any  answer 
to  any  of  my  letters  to  Symons.  I  wish  you  would  write  to 


1818.]  INVITATION    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  141 

him,  and  tell  him  how  much  I  should  like  to  hear  from 
him.  I  hope  our  two  countries  will  long  enjoy  the  blessings 
of  peace.  As  for  peace  in  Europe,  England  now  so  entirely 
holds  the  master-key  in  her  own  hands,  that  there  is  every 
prospect  of  its  long  duration.  Napoleon  can't  escape  so 
readily  from  St.  Helena  as  he  did  from  Elba ;  and  as  for  the 
Bourbons,  they  must  do  what  we  tell  them.  I  spent  a  short 
time  in  Paris  a  little  while  back.  But  Jack  Frog-  don't  look 
very  kindly  on  his  friend  John  Bull.  The  fact  is,  he  feels 
mortified  and  humbled  :  though,  by  the  by,  our  people 
stopped  too  short  in  their  career ;  for  Jack  Frog  had  got 
very  insolent,  and  wanted  his  wings  clipped  a  little  more. 
However,  we  are  now  (tooth  outwards,  as  is  always  the  case 
with  both  countries)  very  good  friends.  1  hope  much  you 
won't  delay  giving  me  a  long  account  of  yourself;  and  tell 
me  if  you  think  there  will  ever  be  any  prospect  of  your 
paying  a  visit  to  England.  Give  my  kindest  regards  to 
your  dear  wife.  Kiss  your  children  for  me.  If  you  have 
another  boy,  let  me  be  his  godfather.  Call  him  William 
Roots  ;  and  then  tell  him,  that,  in  conjunction  with  his  fa 
ther's  name,  he  never  can  do  a  base  action.  With  my  best 
and  most  faithful  wishes  for  the  welfare  of  yourself  and 
every  branch  of  your  family,  my  dear  old  Warren,  believe 
me  always 

Your  sincere  and  affectionate  friend, 

WM.  ROOTS! 

SURBITON,  KINGSTON  ON  THAMES,  Jan.  10,  1818. 

In  the  year  1818,  whilst  Dr.  Warren  was  in  the 
full  tide  of  a  successful  and  rapidly  increasing  prac 
tice  in  medicine  and  surgery,  he  received  an  invita 
tion  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  Professorship  of 
Anatomy  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  has 


142  INVITATION    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  [^ET.  40. 

given  an  account  of  this  affair  in  his  Biographical 
Notes,  as  follows  :  — 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

On  the  22d  January,  in  the  year  1818,  died  Dr.  Caspar 
Wistar,  a  distinguished  Professor  of  Anatomy  in  the  Uni 
versity  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  person  of  excellent 
character,  amiable  manners,  and  had  reached  a  high  degree 
of  eminence  as  a  public  lecturer.  Soon  after  his  death, 
I  received  letters  from  friends  in  Philadelphia,  earnestly 
soliciting  me  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  place  vacant  by 
the  death  of  Dr.  Wistar.  I  took  the  matter  into  considera 
tion  ;  but,  some  time  after,  I  received  a  letter  from  my 
friend  Dr.  Dorsey,  a  distinguished  physician  and  surgeon 
in  Philadelphia,  informing  me  that  he  should  be  a  candidate 
for  the  office,  and  intimating  the  wish  that  I  should  decline. 
On  receiving  his  letter,  I  immediately  wrote  to  him  and  to 
my  other  friends,  informing  them  I  should  decline  competi 
tion  with  Dr.  Dorsey. 

In  November  of  the  same  year,  Dr.  Dorsey  was  seized 
with  fever,  and  died  after  a  short  illness.  The  friends  who 
had  applied  to  me  before,  and  various  others,  now  renewed 
their  applications  in  terms  which  demanded  my  most  serious 
consideration.  They  thought  that  my  position  in  Philadel 
phia  would  be  more  eligible  and  productive  than  that  in 
Boston,  for  Philadelphia  was  considered  as  having  the  first 
medical  school ;  as  being,  on  the  whole,  the  most  agreeable 
city ;  and  the  receipts  of  the  school  would  amount  to  not  less 
than  ten  thousand  dollars  per  annum  to  the  Professor  of 
Anatomy  ;  —  that  I  should  be  able,  no  doubt,  to  take  a  high 
stand  in  surgical  practice,  as  the  principal  surgeon  was  too 
much  out  of  health  to  make  great  efforts ;  and,  independent 


1818.]  LETTER    FROM    H.    G.    OTIS.  143 

of  him,  there  was  an  ample  field  of  surgery  in  so  large 
a  city. 

On  the  other  hand,  my  friends  and  family  in  Boston 
were  opposed  to  my  removal,  and  presented  to  my  con 
sideration  a  number  of  objections,  which  are  much  better 
stated  in  the  following  letter  than  I  can  describe  them :  — 

Letter  from  Harrison  Gray  Otis. 

WASHINGTON,  12th  March,  1818. 

MY  DEAR  SIB,  —  The  inducements  for  you  to  remove  to 
Philadelphia,  are,  as  I  understand  them,  to  be  resolved  into 
those  of  emolument,  and  those  of  ease.  Taking  it  for 
granted  that  the  income  of  the  proposed  place  is  not  over 
rated,  a  consideration  of  some  value  arises,  whether  the 
same  amount  will  go  further  with  you  than  even  your  pre 
sent  professional  gains  in  Boston.  A  man,  I  believe,  may 
live  as  cheap  in  Philadelphia  as  in  Boston ;  but  not  every 
man.  It  is  a  place  of  great  style  and  fashionable  exaction. 
You  go  there  as  a  very  conspicuous  person.  All  eyes  will 
be  upon  you.  You  will  have  new  connections  to  form. 
With  a  great  income,  and  considerable  leisure,  you  will  be 
expected  to  entertain.  You  will  incline  rather  to  exceed, 
than  fall  short  of,  the  expectation..  Your  children  must  be 
lifted  into  the  first  circles  by  your  own  efforts,  and  must 
dress  as  well  as  other  people's  children.  The  summers  may 
require  a  retreat  in  the  country.  The  expense  of  removing 
is  something;  the  loss  of  debts  something.  The  emolu 
ments,  though  their  augmentation  seems  to  be  anticipated, 
may  diminish ;  and  whether  the  New- York  institution,  and 
the  Baltimore  institution,  and  the  Boston  institution,  will 
not  probably  attract  a  portion  of  the  students  who  resort  to 
Philadelphia,  when  these  shall  have  acquired  more  gristle,  is 


144  LETTER    FROM    H.    G.    OTIS.  [JET.  40. 

an  inquiry  to  answer  which  nobody  is  more  competent  than 
yourself.  In  Boston,  your  practice  might  be  lucrative ;  to 
what  extent,  I  pretend  not  to  know.  And  such  is  your  van 
tage-ground,  that  you  may  very  soon,  if  you  cannot  already, 
relieve  yourself  from  much  of  the  labor  by  choosing  your 
patients,  and  declining  a  portion  of  your  calls.  You  can 
also  extend  it,  if  you  please.  There  is  nobody  nor  nothing 
in  your  way.  You  are  not  called  upon  or  expected  to 
devote  your  time  to  company  at  home ;  and  you  command 
at  your  own  pleasure  your  society  abroad.  Less  money  is 
requisite  for  the  dress  and  education  of  your  family.  You 
may  extend,  diminish,  or  vary  your  expenditures  every 
successive  year.  And,  if  you  prefer  becoming  a  mere 
professor  and  lecturer  a  few  years  hence,  why  not  put  toge 
ther  the  materials  that  are  collecting,  and  give  to  your  own 
offspring  the  advantages  of  your  own  patronage  and  cele 
brity.  Nothing  but  the  determination  is  wanting  to  elevate 
your  establishment  to  a  level  with  those  of  any  city  in 
America.  That  your  College  or  Association  of  Physicians, 
taking  Philadelphia  and  Boston  for  standard,  is  composed 
of  higher  talents  than  theirs,  is  a  fact  of  which  I  entertain 
not  a  shadow  of  doubt.  My  inference,  on  the  whole,  then, 
is,  that  it  is,  at  best,  doubtful,  whether,  at  the  end  of  a  ten- 
years'  exile  from  your  native  country,  you  would  find  your 
self  in  greater  affluence  than  in  the  old  "  head-quarters ;  " 
but,  that  you  would  part  with  more  happiness  than  any 
addition  to  your  coffers  would  compensate,  I  have  no  doubt 
at  all.  Then  for  the  ease :  if  your  calculation  would  be  to 
attend  merely  to  the  duties  of  the  chair,  and  decline  prac 
tice,  are  you  sure  that  you  would  not  find  it  a  tame  and 
insufficient  occupation  ?  When  the  course  is  finished, 
should  you  not,  in  the  long  days,  be  inclined,  with  the 
Prince  de  Ligne,  to  conjugate  the  verb  "  ennuyer "  ?  and 


1818.]  LETTER    FROM    H.    G.    OTIS.  145 

would  you  not  often  wish  to  dip  your  hands  in  innocent 
blood  ?     Would  you  not  look  back  with  regret  upon  the 
many  friends,  of  both  sexes,  whose  experience  of  your  pro 
fessional   skill   and   tenderness   has   made   your  residence 
among  them,  and   their  reliance   upon   your  future   aid, 
essential  to  their  comfort,  and  to  whom  your  removal  will 
be  a  cause  of  unfeigned  and  permanent  distress  ?     Hearing 
of  the   illness,   dangers,   sufferings,   of  interesting  beings 
among  your  family  and  friends ;  of  the  calamities  "  which 
flesh  is  heir  to ;  "  and  realizing  their  vain  longings  for  the 
aid  of  their  wonted  physician ;  thinking  of  the  service  you 
might  perform,  and  certainly  of  the  consolation  you  might 
afford,  —  would  you  be  at  your  ease  ?     I  think  not.     You 
would  fly  again  to  yowr  practice.     You  would  seek  new 
connections ;  endeavor  to  create  new  attachments  and  de 
pendencies  ;   and   perhaps,  at   the  end   of  many  years  of 
greater  labor  than  you  must  submit  to  here,  you  would  find 
yourself  in  some  measure  consoled  and  requited  for  the 
dissolution  of  your  early,  natural,  consanguineous,  local, 
municipal,   academic,   and    professional   connections.      To 
these  considerations  may  be  added  others  not  undeserving 
of  attention.     The  gentlemen  of  the  profession  to  whom 
you  would  owe  your  elevation  are,  beyond  doubt,  persons  of 
great  liberality  of  sentiment  and  views.     But  our  nature  is 
human,  not  angelic.     You  will  certainly  be  in  somebody's 
way  ;   and  you  will  be  considered  as  an  obstacle  to  the 
views  of  more  than  one  aspirant  to  the  chair  you  would  fill. 
A  sort  of  feeling  that  a  Yankee  interloper  has  come  into  the 
association,  "  et  alter  tulit  honores,"  must  exist ;  probably 
not  in  a  degree  to  display  itself  at  first,  or  annoy  you  by 
any  revolting  exhibition  of  envy  or  malignity :  but  it  will  be 
there,  ever  ready  to  germinate  to  produce  feuds,  cabals,  and 
discomfort,  and  to  wound  feelings.     If  any  man  can  root 

19 


LETTER    FROM    H.    G.    OTIS.  [yEx.  40. 


out  or  prevent  the  extension  of  this  natural  polypus,  it 

would  be  you.     But  I  know  by  experience  how  very  uncom 

fortable  may  be  rendered  the  tenure  of  office  by  the  envy, 

jealousy,  or  cupidity,  of  a  very  few  persons  ;  and  though  the 

village  dogs   don't  always  bark   at   a   stranger   who   goes 

through,  yet,  if  he  seizes  on  a  village  bone,  he  must  be 

stronger  than  they  are,  to  bear  it  off  in  peace.     This  is  no 

reproach  to  men  or  dogs  ;  for  so  God  hath  ordained  :  and  the 

laws  of  nature  operate  with  uniformity  in  all  cities,  and  in 

all  classes  and  conditions.     Now,  the  contingency  of  this 

sort  of  discomfort  is  something,  as  the  thing  itself  would 

certainly   be  a  good  deal.      In  Boston,  the  effect  cannot 

happen,  there  not  being  the  same  cause.     You  are  a  town- 

born  child,  of  a  known  and  celebrated  family  and  descent,; 

built  upon  the  town-stocks  ;  breaking  no  blockade  in  coming 

into  port,  and  riding  at  moorings  where   all   the  natives 

have  been  used  to  see  you  ever  since  you  were  launched. 

Your  success  and  standing  in  your  profession  are  acqui 

esced  in,  as  the  result  of  industry  and  qualifications  ac 

quired  under  the  observation  of  the  whole  neighborhood  ; 

and  your   brethren   are   reconciled   to   your   claim  to   an 

hereditary  faculty  in  the  different  branches  of  your  pro 

fession,  that  entitles  you  to   the   rank  you   hold.      From 

sudden  ebullitions   of   concealed   chagrin   or   disappointed 

emulation  you  have  nothing  to  fear.     There  are  no  spring- 

guns  or  man-traps  in  your  way  to  and  from  your  lecture- 

room  ;    and  you   can   calculate  upon  the  duration  of  the 

esteem  and  confidence  which  surround  you,  because  you 

know  their  basis,  and  have  witnessed  their  growth.     To  all 

this  I  add  one  further  reflection,  —  the  bearing  of  the  pro 

posed  measure  may  be  of  great  moment  to  your  children. 

It  is  an  obvious  advantage  to  the  young  folks  to  grow  up  in 

the  midst  of  a  respectable  family  connection.     Weight  of 


1818.]  LETTER    FROM    H.    G.    OTIS.  147 

character  and  success  in  life  are  frequently  promoted  by  the 
esprit  de  corps  or  de  famille.  Uncles  and  cousins  are  fre 
quently  of  service  to  each  other  in  a  great  variety  of 
relations  ;  and,  to  females,  this  connection  and  relation  are 
invaluable.  You  are  now  in  the  midst  of  a  clan;  and  the 
children  of  brothers  and  sisters  are  growing  up  together  in 
habits  of  friendship,  with  the  probability  of  "  dwelling  toge 
ther  in  unity,"  and  the  certainty  of  the  confidence  and 
complacency  which  are  derived  from  feeling  that  one  is  not 
alone  in  the  world.  Go  elsewhere,  and  you  become  the 
solitary  parent  stock  ;  no  "  genus  et  proavus  "  on  which  to 
value  yourself,  and  no  connections  of  blood  or  family  to 
bolster  up  the  children.  I  say  nothing  of  taking  your  wife 
from  her  family  and  friends,  —  a  separation  which  I  believe 
will  make  a  wound  which  even  you  can't  heal  ;  though  I 
dare  say  it  would  be  disguised  under  good-humor  and  kind 
dispositions,  to  conform  fo  your  plans.  I  forbear  also  to 
enlarge  upon  the  superior  advantages  you  now  enjoy  for  the 
education  of  your  children,  and  upon  the  fame  and  dignity 
which  will  probably  attend  your  efforts  to  build  up  the 
medical  institutions  of  your  own  Country,  —  to  be  a  distin 
guished  founder  of  a  new  establishment,  rather  than^an 
important  prop  to  an  old  one  ;  but  will  only  add,  that, 
under  every  aspect  in  wMch  I  can  view  the  question  as  it 
affects  your  interest  and  prospects,  the  migration  would  be 
unfortunate,  and  a  cause  orVregret  to  you  through  life.  In 
all  these  opinions  my  wife  most  fully  concurs,  and  will 
perhaps  write  a  postscript.  Excuse  me  for  saying  an  old 


"  I  never  knew  an  oft-removed  tree, 
Or  yet  an  oft-removed  family, 
To  thrive  so  well  as  those  that  settled  be." 

Adieu,  my  dear  sir  !     I  am  threatened  now  with  a  pain  in 


148  INVITATION    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  [vET.  40. 

my  toe,  which  I  ascribe  altogether  to  the  fidgets  brought 
on  by  your  letter. 

I  am  very  truly  and  respectfully 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

(Signed)  H.  G.  OTIS. 

MY  DEAR  SIR,  —  I  did  think  I  had  very  much  to  say  on 
this  important  and  interesting  subject :  but  my  husband,  as 
usual,  has  exhausted  the  subject ;  and  I  need  only  say  amen 
to  the  foregoing.  If,  however,  he  has  omitted  any  thing,  it 
must  arise  from  a  lurking  envy  on  the  part  of  that  sex  on 
whom  your  loss  would  fall  most  heavily,  and  for  whom  he 
has  that  exquisite  tenderness,  that  he  would  wish  an  exclu 
sive  claim  to  a  reciprocity.  If  your  cruel  project  is  not 
quite  relinquished,  we  the  aggrieved  shall  have  a  meeting, 
and  make  a  most  touching  appeal  to  all  your  fine  feelings. 
In  all  events,  believe  me  most  truly  your  friend,  and  deeply 
interested  in  your  welfare,  reputation,  and  happiness. 

s.  o. 

Mr.  Otis  was  a  gentleman  equal  in  talent  to  any  person 
in  our  community  at  that  time.  He  and  his  family  had 
been  friendly  to  me  on  my  first  establishment  in  Boston. 
He  continued  so  to  the  day  of  his  death. 

Besides  the  objections  portrayed  in  the  above  letter,  there 
were  two  of  great  consideration  to  others,  which  his  deli 
cacy  had  let  him  to  omit.  The  first  of  these  was  a  sense 
of  gratitude  to  the  community  in  which  I  lived,  for  the 
kindness  and  consideration  I  had  always  experienced.  A 
favorable  notice  had  been  taken  of  my  labors,  such  as  they 
were ;  and  a  sort  of  hereditary  regard  to  my  family,  spring 
ing  from  the  labors  and  efforts  of  my  uncle  and  father,  and 
some  others  of  its  members. 


1818.]  INVITATION    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  149 

The  second  objection  not  mentioned  in  the  above  letter, 
which  had  an  important  influence  on  my  mind,  was,  that 
my  father,  having  died  only  three  years  before,  had  left 
Boston  without  any  one  who  was  particularly  known  as  a 
surgeon ;  and  some  years  would  have  been  required  to  form 
any  one. 

The  negotiation  continued  for  some  months,  and  cost  me 
much  thinking,  much  writing,  and  much  anxiety  ;  but, 
when  the  period  arrived  for  making  a  reply,  I  did  it  decid 
edly  in  the  negative,  for  the  reasons  stated  above,  and  have 
never  seen  cause  to  regret  my  decision.  From  that  time 
till  the  last  three  years,  I  have  been  as  much  occupied  as 
possible.  If  I  had  been  in  Philadelphia  during  this  period, 
I  should  have  lectured  and  written  more,  and  practised 
less.  I  should  possibly  have  had  more  reputation  in  sur 
gery,  and  less  property.  Instead  of  being  now  situated  in 
a  very  large  circle  of  friends  and  relations,  among  whom  I 
could  enjoy  the  fruits  of  my  labors,  I  should  have  been 
placed,  no  doubt,  among  many  distinguished  men  and  very 
good  friends,  but  less  near  to  me  than  those  in  Boston. 

In  the  year  1838,  being  then  in  Europe,  I  received  an 
application,  on  the  part  of  the  Regent  of  the  University  of 
New  York,  to  take  the  office  of  Professor  of  Anatomy  in 
that  institution. 

The  same  reasons  which  had  operated  on  my  mind  in 
regard  to  Philadelphia,  influenced  me  in  respect  to  that 
from  New  York  ;  and,  with  the  expression  of  my  thanks 
for  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  me,  I  respectfully 
declined  the  invitation. 


June  6,  1820,  Dr.  Warren  read  to  the  Massachu 
setts  Medical  Society,  as  their  Annual  Discourse,  "  A 


150  SENSORIAL    SYSTEM.  [-<ET.  42. 

Comparative  View  of  the  Sensorial  and  Nervous  Sys 
tems  in  Man  and  Animals."  This  was  perhaps  the 
earliest  publication  in  Boston  upon  the  subject  of 
comparative  anatomy,  which  was  always  a  favorite 
science  with  him.  Like  every  thing  else  which  he  set 
about,  he  prepared  this  treatise  with  the  greatest  care 
by  dissections,  and  by  the  examination  of  the  labors 
of  others,  particularly  of  Cuvier,  whose  lectures  he 
had  attended  with  great  pleasure  when  he  studied 
in  Paris. 

Adopting  as  his  guide  the  arrangement  of  Linnaeus, 
improved  by  Cuvier,  he  commences  with  the  classes 
of  vertebral  animals,  and  describes  the  particular 
nervous  structure  in  each  of  these ;  and  hence  goes 
down  to  the  lowest  order  of  animal  life.  Thence  he 
goes  into  an  account  of  the  different  races  of  men, 
and  gives  a  comparative  view  of  the  crania  of  these 
races.  He  comes  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  structure 
of  the  brain  in  animals  shows  nothing  to  prove  that 
the  intellectual  faculties  are  altogether  dependent 
on  the  organization  of  the  brain.  He  is  disposed  to 
attribute  the  differences  in  the  races  of  men  more 
to  education  than  to  physical  structure.  He  thinks 
that  the  Mongol  race  may  be  as  susceptible  of  im 
provement  as  the  Caucasian.  The  North-American 
Indians  he  thinks  equally  capable  of  education,  if 
commenced  from  the  cradle.  With  regard  to  the 
African,  he  states,  that,  in  those  born  in  this  country, 
"  their  appearance  alters  for  the  better ;  the  features 
expand,  and  assume  a  milder  character ;  the  body 


1820.]  SENSORIAL    SYSTEM.  151 

becomes  more  upright.  In  one  of  the  New-England 
States,  where  slavery  was  retained,  in  a  mitigated 
form,  longer  than  in  the  rest,  it  has  been  distinctly 
noticed,  that  the  children  of  Africans,  born  in  this 
country,  and  brought  up  with  those  of  the  whites,  as 
occasionally  happened  in  large  country  estates,  were 
as  intelligent,  as  gay,  as  ready  to  imbibe  the  rudi 
ments  of  learning,  as  the  whites  ;  and,  if  their  educa 
tion  had  kept  pace  with  that  of  the  latter,  they  might 
generally  have  continued  on  the  same  level  through 
life." 

This  little  treatise  must  have  been  listened  to  and 
read,  at  the  time  of  its  delivery  and  publication,  with 
great  interest,  because  the  language  is  clear,  and  rea 
dily  understood  by  the  scientific  or  the  unscientific ; 
and  it  doubtless  contributed  to  call  attention  to  the 
science  which  the  genius  of  Cuvier  so  brilliantly 
illustrated,  and  which  has  since  been  so  earnestly 
pursued  in  this  country. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

The  period  of  1820  (that  is,  that  time  before  and  after 
wards)  was  filled,  as  before  mentioned,  with  extensive 
practice,  and  with  various  other  occupations.  In  1820,  the 
Hospital  began.  At  about  the  same  time,  St.  Paul's  Church, 
and  its  consequent  labors,  commenced.  In  1820,  I  deli 
vered  the  Annual  Discourse  to  the  Massachusetts  Medical 
Society.  This  was  the  first  publication  in  comparative 
anatomy  here,  and  cost  me  many  laborious  dissections. 
It  was,  however,  finished  early ;  so  that,  after  it  was  com- 


152  JOURNEY    TO    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  [^El.  42. 

pleted,  and  before  it  was  delivered,  I  had  time  to  go  into  the 
country  for  a  few  days  to  recruit  a  little  from  the  labors  of 
the  winter.  Mr.  Mason,  my  father-in-law,  possessing  an 
extensive  sheep-farm  in  Dublin,  N.H.,  invited  his  family  to 
make  a  visit  to  the  place.  The  party  consisted,  as  well  as  I 
remember,  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason,  Mrs.  Grant,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sears,  Mr.  Trueman,  and  myself.  Mrs.  Warren  re 
mained  at  home  to  take  care  of  the  little  family,  which  was 
then  five  or  six  in  number.  It  was  the  23d  of  May,  and 
the  trees  were  covered  with  blossoms  ;  but,  when  we  arrived 
in  New  Hampshire  (which  was  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
we  left  Boston),  we  were  interrupted  by  a  violent  snow 
storm,  which  confined  us  in  a  poor  tavern  eleven  miles 
short  of  Dublin.  The  great  Monadnock  was  the  first  ob 
ject  which  presented  itself  on  the  following  morning ;  and, 
although  at  considerable  distance,  it  appeared  so  near  as  to 
seem  to  tower  over  our  heads,  covered  with  snow  from  its 
base  to  its  summit,  and  gave  some  idea  of  one  of  the  snowy 
peaks  of  the  Alps. 

Dublin  is  singularly  situated  at  the  base  of  Monadnock ; 
the  eastern  side  of  the  mountain  appearing  quite  precipi 
tous,  like  a  wall,  and  the  country  below  stopping  abruptly 
at  its  base.  This  country,  contracting  to  a  narrow  pass, 
gradually  rises  till  you  reach  the  highest  part,  where,  from 
the  road,  you  might  contemplate  to  the  east  and  south  the 
whole  country  from  that  place  to  Boston ;  and  on  the  north 
lay  the  village  of  Dublin,  its  church,  and  a  beautiful  lake, 
beyond  which  the  country  opened  to  the  north  arid  west. 
We  passed  two  or  three  days  in  this  romantic  situation  ;  and 
some  of  the  company  ascended  Monadnock,  though  with 
great  difficulty. 

About  that  time,  I  went  up  Wachusett  in  company  with 
Dr.  Bigelow.  Being  about  to  visit  a  patient  in  Groton,  I 


1820.]  JOURNEY    TO    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  153 

invited  him  to  accompany  me ;  and  we  visited,  in  the  first 
place,  the  patient,  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Dana,  Esq.,  a 
famous  Democratic  politician.  After  this  visit  to  Groton, 
we  crossed  a  beautiful  country,  through  Harvard  and  Lan 
caster,  to  Princeton ;  but  did  not  reach  there  till  ten  o'clock 
at  night,  very  dark,  threatening  to  rain,  and  we  ignorant  of 
the  route.  The  inn  was  an  uninhabited  one,  so  far  as 
regarded  guests,  as  there  were  none ;  and  there  was  very 
little  to  eat.  The  next  day  was  Sunday  ;  and  we  were  shut 
up  all  day  by  a  violent  rain-storm,  during  which  I  read  no 
small  part  of  the  "  Universal  History  "  of  Anquetil.  Dr. 
Bigelow  amused  himself  in  a  similar  way.  The  next  morn 
ing,  being  clear,  though  wet,  we  took  a  guide,  and  ascended 
the  mountain.  The  first  part  of  the  ascent  was  through  a 
tall  and  regular  grove  of  walnuts  and  oaks.  These,  as  we 
ascended,  became  shorter,  and,  at  the  summit,  dwindled 
into  shrubs,  so  firm  and  bushy  that  one  could  almost  walk 
upon  their  summits.  We  were  told  there  was  a  carriage- 
road  from  Westminster,  on  the  other  side.  The  summit  of 
the  mountain  is  bare,  and  the  view  magnificent.  The  river 
Nashua  forms  a  peculiar  feature  in  the  scenery ;  and  the 
country  towards  Boston  is  so  free  and  open,  that  the  sea 
may  be  discovered  with  a  telescope.  Ward  Nicholas  Boyl- 
ston,  Esq.,  the  patron  of  the  Medical  Institution,  afterwards 
lived  in  Princeton ;  and  I  made  him  a  very  pleasant  visit,  in 
company  with  Dr.  Gorham.  The  third  time,  I  ascended 
the  mountain  without  a  guide,  and  got  lost.  That  time,  we 
ascended  from  Lancaster.  Mrs.  Warren  and  two  of  my 
daughters  were  with  me :  Nand  we  took  at  Lancaster  Miss 
Ann  Clay,  who  was  residing  there ;  but  she  was  unable  to 
ascend  the  mountain,  from  an  organic  affection  of  the  heart. 
On  descending,  we  got  our  dinner  of  brown  bread  and  but 
ter  at  a  house  wildly  situated  on  the  brow  of  the  mountain. 

20 


154  JOURNEY    TO    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  [VEl.  42. 

To  return  to  our  mountain  journey  to  Monadnock.  On 
our  way  home,  we  were  involved  in  a  very  violent  thunder- 
shower,  during  which  we  were  much  exposed  on  the  moun 
tain  road  of  the  Concord  turnpike,  but  arrived  safely  home 
that  day,  without  any  great  accidents ;  quite  happy  to  be 
protected  from  the  snow  and  thunder  storms. 


1820.]  RELIGION.  155 


CHAPTER    XI. 

EARLY   IMPRESSIONS.  —  RELIGION.  —  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH.— 

PRAYERS. 

IN  November,  1820,  Dr.  Warren  joined  the  religious 
society  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  which  had  recently  been 
erected  in  Boston. 

His  father  had  been  strictly  educated  in  the  doc 
trines  and  principles  of  the  Puritans,  or  Calvinists. 
His  mother  was  by  education  a  Quaker,  who,  by  mar 
rying  out  of  her  church,  became  separated  from  that 
body. 

In  the  religious  instruction  of  their  children,  they 
both  enforced  the  simple  doctrine,  that  the  Bible  was 
the  word  of  God,  and  that  all  who  strictly  obeyed  its 
precepts  would  be  accepted  by  him.  It  was  the  con 
stant  desire  of  Dr.  John  Warren  to  lead  his  children 
not  only  to  revere,  but  to  love,  the  Scriptures.  Until 
after  the  return  of  his  son  from  Europe  in  1802, 
Brattle-street  Church,  which  he  and  his  family  at 
tended,  was  strictly  Calvinistic  in  doctrine. 

A  gradual  change  took  place  under  Mr.  Buckmin- 
ster :  but  the  language  of  the  hymn-books  used,  con 
tinued  Trinitarian ;  and  these  naturally  serve  to  bias 
the  mind  of  a  child,  or  of  a  young  person  who  has 
not  given  the  subject  much  thought. 


156  RELIGION.  [JET.  42. 

Mr.  Buckminster's  opinions  were  in  a  progressive 
state.  He  seldom,  if  ever,  preached  doctrinal  ser 
mons.  The  principal  change  was,  in  fact,  one  which 
had  been  going  on  imperceptibly  in  this  and  the 
other  congregations  in  and  around  Boston.  It  was 
a  change,  not  of  doctrines,  but  of  feelings.  It  had 
become  more  the  custom  to  attempt  to  lead  men,  by 
dwelling  upon  the  love  of  God,  and  good-will  to  all 
men,  than  to  drive  them  by  a  display  of  the  terrors  of 
future  punishment. 

The  change,  therefore,  in  Brattle-street  Church,  as 
in  the  other*  churches,  consisted  in  an  increasing 
liberality  of  sentiment,  and  in  a  gradual  omission  of 
Calvinistic  forms  of  expression  in  the  prayers  and 
sermons,  without  any  universal  or  avowed  change  of 
doctrine.  It  was  left  for  every  one  to  form  his  own 
theological  views.  The  younger  portion  of  the  soci 
ety  were  never  instructed  in  sectarian  tenets,  and 
many  of  the  older  members  never  altered  their 
doctrinal  opinions. 

It  was  not  until  about  the  time  that  Dr.  Warren 
left  this  church,  that  Unitarian  views  began  to  be 
explained  and  enforced.  He  therefore  entered  upon 
religious  inquiries  with  his  mind  nearly  unbiased  as 
to  sectarian  tenets,  except  as  far  as  regards  early  im 
pressions  from  the  doxologies,  and  forms  of  benedic 
tion,  which  were  Trinitarian.  He  has  given  a  full 
account  of  his  search  after  truth,  and  of  the  reasons 
which  led  him  to  the  step  he  had  now  taken. 


1820.]  DR.    THATCHER.  157 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

My  father  was  brought  up  in  the  Orthodox  Church  in 
Roxbuoy.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Porter  was  placed  in  that  church. 
My  father,  as  soon  as  he  settled  in  Boston,  fixed  himself  in 
the  Brattle-street  Church,  the  pastor  being  the  eloquent 
and  patriotic  Dr.  Cooper ;  and  occupied  the  same  pew 
which  had  belonged  to,  and  been  occupied  by,  his  brother, 
General  Warren.  In  that  pew  I  sat  for  the  first  twenty 

years,  under  the  ministration  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  .     This 

gentleman  was  a  man  of  handsome  abilities,  elegant  per 
son,  with  a  delightful  voice ;  very  impressive  in  prayer : 
but,  being  much  courted  and  feasted  by  the  many  rich  men 
of  his  congregation,  his  industry  became  relaxed,  and,  con 
sequently,  his  sermons  less  effective.  When  little  more  than 
fifty  years  old,  he  lost  his  health,  and  his  powerful  con 
stitution  began  to  totter.  His  sermons  were  rather  orthodox 
than  otherwise,  but  had  no  distinct  point.  They,  of  course, 
made  very  little  impression ;  and  whether  I  got  much  good 
there  myself,  or  not,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  suppose  that  the 
regular  habit  of  going  to  church,  acquired  at  that  period  of 
life,  was  a  great  advantage.  There  was  no  particular  reli 
gious  instruction,  however  ;  no  Sunday  school,  no  conversa 
tion,  and  nothing  but  a  mere  routine  of  going  to  church 
every  Sunday.  I  suppose  that  the  Revolution,  which  had 
just  terminated,  bringing  in  new  habits  and  customs,  —  as, 
for  example,  laboring  on  the  sabbath  the  same  as  on  any 
other  day ;  the  universal  employment  of  ardent  spirits  in  the 
army,  and  thence  diffusing  itself  in  the  rest  of  the  commu 
nity,  —  broke  in  upon  the  religious  habits  and  opinions 
which  had  characterized  this  part  of  the  country.  There 
was,  however,  no  disrespect  of  religion  in  my  father's  house. 


158  RELIGION.  [-ET;  42. 

On  the  contrary,  he  was,  whenever  he  was  able,  in  the  habit 
of  reading  a  sermon  to  his  family  on  Sunday.  My  religious 
notions  were  therefore  laid  in  the  right  train,  but  were  yet 
not  very  well  settled ;  so  that  at  college,  except  a  general 
respect  for  religion  and  its  services,  I  had  very  little  thought 
on  the  subject,  and,  as  far  as  I  remember,  never,  in  going 
to  prayers,  had  the  least  feeling  of  their  object.  We  were  to 
go  into  the  chapel,  get  through  the  prayers  as  quick  as  we 
could,  and  then  get  out.  We  never  had  any  religious  ad 
dress  in  the  College  Chapel ;  and,  although  we  were  obliged 
to  go  to  church  on  Sunday,  considered  the  sermons  of  the 
reverend  clergyman  as  a  task  to  be  gone  through,  although 
we  had  great  respect  for  the  character  of  the  preacher. 

With  religious  feelings  setting  very  lightly  on  my  mind, 
I  went  to  Europe  in  the  year  1799,  being  then  about  twenty 
years  old.  From  that  time  to  the  period  of  my  return,  I 
never  went  to  church,  except  in  Edinburgh,  where  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Kemp  used  to  ask  me  to  dine  on  Sunday,  and  carried 
me  to  his  church  in  the  afternoon.  His  good  wine,  and  a 
little  glass  of  brandy  and  sugar  after  dinner,  —  in  taking 
which,  Lady  Kemp  always  set  the  example,  —  very  much 
blighted  our  attention  in  the  afternoon.  In  London,  Sunday 
was  a  day  of  relief  from  study,  of  dining  out,  and  doing 
any  thing  but  going  to  church.  In  France,  there  was  no 
regular  religion  at  the  time  I  was  there.  Sunday  was 
blotted  out.  Once  in  ten  days,  we  had  a  vacation-day  from 
study ;  and,  on  that  day,  the  Theophilanthropists,  as  they 
called  themselves,  sometimes  held  festivals  in  some  of  the 
churches.  There  they  had  a  rhetorical  address,  an  altar 
covered  with  flowers,  and  an  orator  (not  a  priest)  robed  in 
white  silk,  ornamented  with  every  variety  of  colored  rib 
bons.  About  that  time,  however,  Bonaparte,  having 
reached  the  summit  of  his  consular  power,  came  to  a 


1820.]  THE    FIRST    CHURCH.  159 

conclusion  that  religion  was  necessary  to  good  govern 
ment.  He  determined,  therefore,  to  bring  back  the  Catho 
lic  religion ;  and  in  April,  1800,  went  with  great  pomp, 
and  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men,  to  the  Church 
of  Notre  Dame,  in  Paris,  to  restore  religion.  After  that 
time,  the  churches  were  re-opened ;  and  the  priests,  with 
a  timorous  and  doubtful  step,  re-entered  their  places  of 
worship. 

Returning  to  Boston  in  the  latter  part  of  1802,  I  was 
married  in  November,  1803,  and  looked  round  for  a  church 
to  settle  in.  It  so  happened,  that  in  the  Anthology  Club, 
and  in  the  Society  for  the  Study  of  Natural  Philosophy,  I 
had  become  very  much  acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Emerson.  The  societies  even  often  met  in  his  house,  and 
our  apparatus  was  lodged  there.  These  circumstances  led 
to  a  great  intimacy  ;  and,  he  being  a  lively,  intelligent 
person,  an  attractive  preacher,  and  very  desirous  I  should 
join  his  church,  we  concluded  to  go  to  the  "  Old  Brick,"  as 
it  was  called,  or  First  Church.  This,  a  very  respectable 
building  of  peculiar  architecture,  was  situated  near  the 
head  of  State  Street,  where  Joy's  Building  now  stands.  Dr. 
Emerson  died,  no  long  time  after,  from  an  organic  affection 
of  the  stomach.  The  old  church  was  pulled  down,  and  a 
very  ordinary  one  erected  in  Chauncy  Place.  This  pro 
ceeding  being  very  unpleasant,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buck- 
minster  being  placed  in  our  original  church  in  Brattle 
Street,  I  determined  to  go  to  his  church,  and  bought  a  pew 
there ;  my  father  being  then  alive,  and  attending  the  same 
church. 

Mr.  Buckminster  was  a  remarkably  able,  eloquent,  and 
agreeable  person  ;  perhaps  one  of  the  most  able  writers  01 
the  country  in  his  time.  I  was  intimately  acquainted  with 
him.  I  never  went  to  church  in  the  morning,  and  missed 


160  RELIGION. 


often  in  the  afternoon,  but  still  was  a  member  of  the  Parish 
Committee.  Mr.  Buckminster,  unfortunately,  died  of  epi 
lepsy  ;  and  we  then  had  Mr.  Edward  Everett,  who,  though 
very  young  (being  about  twenty-one),  had  entered  the  pul 
pit.  Mr.  Everett  was  very  much  liked  by  everybody,  and 
particularly  by  myself.  But,  after  a  short  time,  he  left 
the  church  ;  being  chosen  Professor  of  Greek  Literature  in 
Harvard  College. 

About  this  time,  a  friend  of  mine,  in  whom  I  felt  much 
interest,  had  committed  some  indiscretions  which  were  inju- 
rkms  to  his  character.  This  led  to  pretty  serious  conversa 
tion  between  us  ;  and  I  agreed,  for  more  exactness,  to  put 
my  thoughts  in  writing.  In  doing  this,  I  was  naturally 
led,  as  a  preventive  to  future  mistakes,  to  point  out  the 
importance  of  religious  faith  and  practice.  This  brought 
on  a  number  of  conversations  on  the  subject,  from  which  I 
was  led  to  take  up  the  matter  in  a  way  I  had  not  yet  done  ; 
having,  like  most  men,  deferred  its  examination  to  a  more 
convenient  time.  The  circumstances  above  mentioned, 
however,  set  me  to  work  immediately  and  systematically. 
I  read  the  Greek  Testament  through,  once  or  twice,  from  a 
copy  which  I  purchased  in  Paris  in  the  year  1801,  and 
which  I  procured  in  that  great  city  with  much  difficulty  ; 
there  being  none  for  sale  at  the  bookshops,  and  that  which 
I  procured  was  found  in  a  stall.  This  copy  I  lately  gave 
to  my  son  Sullivan.  Afterwards  I  read  a  good  deal  of 
the  Greek  Septuagint,  and  the  whole  of  the  Latin  Vul 
gate,  wishing  to  come  as  near  as  possible  to  the  fountain- 
head.  Some  of  the  commentaries  I  also  read,  particularly 
Macknight  ;  then  Wilberforce,  Leland,  and  Butler's  "  Ana 
logy,"  from  which  I  never  obtained  the  satisfaction  that  led 
Governor  Bowdoin  to  recommend  it;  also  works  on  the 
prophecies,  miracles,  &c.  I  was  particularly  pleased  with 


1820.]  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH.  161 

the  philosophical  spirit  of  a  small  work  by  the  celebrated 
writer  on  natural  philosophy,  —  Bonnet  of  Geneva,  —  which 
I  read  two  or  three  times.  What  gave  me  particular  satis 
faction  was  the  reading  of  the  books  which  immediately 
followed,  or  were  said  to  have  followed,  the  publication  of 
the  Gospels,  —  Irenaeus,  Polycarp,  St.  Jerome,  and  others. 

After  going  through  all  these  and  many  other  works,  I 
determined  to  adopt  the  Orthodox  or  Trinitarian  form  of 
worship  ;  and  there  happened  to  be  about  this  time  a  new 
Episcopal  Church  (St.  Paul's)  set  up  by  some  of  the  mem 
bers  of  Trinity  Church,  and  many  gentlemen  of  the  town 
not  Churchmen,  among  whom  were  Hon.  Mr.  Webster, 
George  Sullivan,  H.  G.  Otis,  David  Sears,  and  a  large  divi 
sion  of  Mr.  Mason's  family,  some  of  whom  afterwards 
became  members  of  the  church,  and  others  not.  About 
half  a  dozen  families  left  Brattle  Street,  not  by  concert,  but 
by  a  simultaneous  movement.  This  excited  a  great  many 
remarks,  much  discussion,  and  a  great  deal  of  abuse,  in 
newspapers  and  pamphlets ;  in  consequence  of  which,  some 
of  the  subscribers  to  the  new  church  retired,  while  others 
became  more  settled  and  firm.  The  church  was  well  at 
tended  ;  but,  the  pews  not  being  disposed  of  to  an  extent  to 
relieve  its  debt,  a  good  deal  of  uneasiness  was  excited.  The 
debt  was  much  relieved  by  permission  to  build  tombs  under 
the  church,  the  whole  of  which  were  soon  sold  ;  and  by  the 
judicious  management  of  Mr.  William  Appleton,  Mr.  Ste 
phen  Codman,  and  others,  was  soon  reduced  to  a  manage-  • 
able  state. 

In  the  mean  while,  a  disatisfaction  arose  from  the  con 
stant  demands  of  the  rector  for  money ;  he  being  disposed  to 
anticipate  his  income.  He  became  also  unpopular,  in  other 
respects,  by  his  bigotry.  The  members  began  to  fall  off;  and 
finally  an  expression  of  discontent  was  found  to  be  pretty 

21 


162  RELIGION.  C-ffiT.  42. 

general.  This  led  to  the  demand,  on  the  part  of  the 
church,  for  a  separation  from  the  rector.  This  movement 
was  strenuously  opposed  by  him,  and  was  at  length  settled 
by  an  appeal  to  a  convention.  They  recommended  that  the 
rector  should  have  permission  to  retire,  in  consideration  of 
the  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  paid  to  him  by  the  church ; 
which  they  gladly  agreed  to,  at  the  end  of  about  five  years 
after  his  settlement.  A  considerable  number  of  the  parish 
followed  this  gentleman,  who  preached  for  some  time  at 
Christ  Church. 

St.  Paul's  Church  was  now  in  a  deserted  state,  and  it  was 
thought  would  soon  be  sold  for  a  Unitarian  church,  as  Uni- 
tarianism  was  then  making  rapid  advances.  In  concert  with 
Mr.  William  Appleton,  I  agreed  to  undertake  the  manage 
ment  of  the  church  concerns,  and  was  chosen  senior  warden. 
For  about  two  years,  I  supplied  the  pulpit  with  such  ministers 
as  I  could  find ;  and  sometimes  we  were  obliged  to  resort 
to  laymen  to  read  the  service.  I  superintended  the  Sunday 
School,  the  Missionary  Society,  and  the  church  music. 
But  the  great  object  in  view  was  to  get  a  rector  of  real  piety 
and  decided  talent.  For  a  long  time,  this  was  impracticable  ; 
but  at  last,  through  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wayland,  who  was  then  a 
Baptist  minister  in  this  town,  I  was  informed  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Potter,  who  had  lately  been  chosen  President  of  the  new 
Episcopal  College  in  Geneva,  N.Y.  It  was  a  hard  matter 
to  prevail  on  Mr.  Potter  to  come  here ;  but  still  harder  to 
obtain  the  consent  of  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  who  con 
sidered  Mr.  Potter's  continuance  in  the  college  to  be  very 
important.  By  letter,  I  introduced  myself  to  the  Bishop  of 
New  York,  and,  by  a  protracted  correspondence,  convinced 
him,  that,  if  St.  Paul's  Church  fell  through,  it  would  have 
a  bad  effect  on  Episcopalianism  in  this  State,  and  perhaps 
in  New  England.  Finally,  the  consent  of  all  parties  was 


1820.]  NEW    PRAYER    BOOK.  163 

obtained ;  and  Mr.  Potter  was  inducted  into  office  on  the 
twenty-ninth  day  of  August,  1826.  This  was  the  opening 
of  a  new  era  for  St.  Paul's,  and  the  Episcopal  Church 
generally  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Potter  (now  Bishop  Potter)  was  a  person  of  great 
natural  abilities,  industry,  and  perseverance  ;  fine  manners, 
commanding  appearance,  and  benevolent  disposition.  While 
he  was  what  is  called  a  sound  Churchman,  his  views  of  reli 
gious  worship  were  such  as  appeared  to  me  to  belong  to  a 
pious  and  sensible  man.  Under  his  ministration,  the  church 
grew  rapidly,  and  soon  filled  with  persons  who  thought  seri 
ously  on  religious  subjects,  gathered  from  a  variety  of  other 
congregations,  —  Episcopal,  Orthodox,  and  Unitarian.  The 
accessory  means  of  religious  improvement  were  cultivated 
by  lectures,  social  meetings,  missionary  societies,  and  other 
means  of  improvement.  During  the  interregnum,  a  num 
ber  of  us  formed  a  private  association  for  the  purpose  of 
religious  improvement.  We  met  weekly,  on  Sunday  even 
ings,  first  at  the  vestry,  and  afterwards  at  our  houses  in 
rotation.  The  gentlemen  composing  this  society  (besides 
myself)  were  Drs.  Jeffries,  Reynolds,  Hale  ;  Edward  Tuck- 
erman,  James  C.  Merrill,  and  James  C.  Dunn,  Esqs.  We 
continued  these  meetings  to  much  advantage  for  several 
years,  without  its  existence  being  known  to  any  but  our 
families.  Finally,  some  of  the  gentlemen  began  to  fall  off; 
and  it  was  discontinued,  contrary  to  my  wish.  We  gave 
an  impulse  to  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  instituted  for 
the  purpose  of  helping  poor  churches.  In  doing  this,  we 
had  the  aid  of  some  gentlemen  of  Trinity  Church,  particu 
larly  S.  D.  Parker,  Esq. 

It  was  in  this  society  that  the  plan  of  publishing  a  new 
Prayer  Book  was  originated  and  accomplished.  We  had 
felt  the  want  of  a  good  Prayer  Book,  a-ncl  succeeded  in  get- 


164  RELIGION.  [jET.  42. 

ting  out  one  in  an  octavo  form,  well  printed,  with  a  new  set 
of  directions  for  those  who  were  unacquainted  with  church 
forms,  at  the  price  of  one  dollar  a  copy.  The  edition  has 
long  since  been  exhausted.  Rev.  Mr.  Doane,  of  Trinity, 
was  added  to  the  Standing  Committee  by  the  Convention ; 
and,  by  his  great  activity,  ultimately  took  the  management 
out  of  our  hands. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Potter  continued  at  St.  Paul's  about  five 
years,  I  think;  when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he,  to  the 
consternation  of  the  parish,  requested  a  dismissal. 

St.  Paul's  Church  received  its  character  from  Bishop 
Potter.  Dr.  Jarvis  was  a  High  Churchman,  and  full  in  the 
belief  that  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  should  be  adhered 
to  under  all  circumstances,  and  for  all  religious  purposes. 
The  congregation,  constituted  as  it  was  principally  of  per 
sons  educated  in  the  Congregational  form,  could  never 
swallow  this  doctrine.  Bishop  Potter  adhered  to  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer,  as  a  collection  venerable  for  its  age,  and 
convenient  for  devotional  exercises ;  but  he  did  not  think  it 
necessary  to  employ  it  exclusively.  Bishops  Hopkins, 
Doane,  and  others,  believed  the  Common  Prayer  Book  was 
competent,  not  only  for  the  usual  services  of  the  altar,  but 
for  all  other  occasions,  —  as  temperance  celebrations,  mis 
sionary  meetings,  &c.  Bishop  Hopkins  maintained,  even, 
that  temperance  societies,  and  other  similar  associations, 
were  useless  ;  as  all  matters  necessary  to  life  and  doctrine 
were  to  be  found  in  the  Common  Prayer  Book.  Both  these 
gentlemen  lived  long  enough  to  see  that  the  public  opinion 
was  against  them ;  but  whether  they  ever  altered  their 
notions,  I  have  not  heard. 

The  church,  although  it  had  lost  many  of  its  High 
Church  members,  was,  on  the  departure  of  Bishop  Potter 
(1831),  very  flourishing  in  its  state  of  religious  feeling  ;  and 


1820.]  ST.  PAUL'S  CHURCH.  165 

a  great  number  of  religious  societies  existed  in  the  congre 
gation,  and  were  supported  very  liberally  in  all  good  works. 

The  weekly  evening  lectures  of  Mr.  Potter  contributed  to 
the  maintenance  of  a  right  feeling  in  the  church,  as  well  as 
to  attract  new  members  from  abroad. 

The  interregnum  which  followed  was  an  anxious  one  to 
those  who  felt  much  interest  in  its  concerns  ;  for  the  con 
gregation,  attracted  by  the  excellence  of  Mr.  Potter,  imme 
diately  began  to  fall  off  on  his  departure.  Every  effort  was 
made  on  my  part  to  obtain  temporary  aid  from  able  clergy 
men  ;  but,  although  the  facilities  were  increased  very  much 
from  those  of  the  previous  interregnum,  they  were  not  such 
as  to  enable  us  to  keep  up  a  deep  interest.  After  an  inter 
val  of  between  one  and  two  years,  we  invited  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mcllvaine,  of  Brooklyn,  N.Y.,  a  pious  man,  and  of  great 
eloquence.  He  made  a  preliminary  visit  to  Boston,  and 
staid  with  me ;  was  pleased  with  the  prospect ;  and  would 
have,  no  doubt,  accepted  the  call,  but  was  at  that  time 
made  Bishop  of  Ohio.  We  had  then  to  look  out  again ; 
and  at  length  we  heard  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stone,  who  was 
settled  in  New  Haven.  We  sent  a  committee  to  hear 
him,  consisting  of  Mr.  Manlius  Sargent,  Mr.  Tuckerman, 
and  Mr.  Reynolds  ;  and,  they  making  a  favorable  report,  we 
gave  him  a  call.  This  was  accepted,  and  he  was  soon  after 
settled.  The  people  soon  became  sensible,  that,  in  Mr. 
Stone,  they  had  a  treasure  which  they  could  not  find  else 
where,  and  the  church  filled  rapidly. 

After  nine  years  of  faithful  labor,  the  rector  was  invited 
(1841)  to  Brooklyn,  N.Y. ;  and  he  accepted  the  call.  Thus 
we  lost  three  rectors  in  about  twenty  years. 

I  was  obliged  to  go  to  work  again,  and  ultimately  prevailed 
on  Mr.  Vinton,  of  Providence,  R.I.,  to  come  to  Boston.* 

*  Instituted  sit  St.  Paul's  Church,  May  11,  1842. 


166  RELIGION.  [.Ex.  42. 

He  has,  by  his  moral  and  physical  qualities,  placed  the 
church  on  a  better  footing  than  before.  The  pews  are  sold 
at  as  high  a  rate  there  as  at  any  church  in  town,  and  it  is 
rare  that  one  is  to  be  obtained.  Dr.  Vinton,  exercising  as 
he  does  great  mental  power  to  awaken  the  congregation  to 
a  lively  religious  feeling,  considers  his  success  as  not  propor 
tionate  to  his  efforts ;  and  there  is,  in  fact,  no  religious 
excitement  in  the  parish.  But  there  seems  to  be,  as  far  as  I 
can  judge,  a  steady  sentiment  pervading  the  people  ;  and  a 
full  attendance  on  all  occasions,  excepting  at  midsummer. 

Finding  some  inconveniences  from  being  compelled  to 
attend  to  the  duties  of  warden,  I  resigned  that  office,  after 
holding  it  seventeen  years ;  but  have  continued  a  member 
of  the  vestry  to  this  time  (December,  1849). 

There  is  a  good  library  belonging  to  the  church,  which 
has  been  founded  by  David  Sears,  Esq.,  containing  about  a 
thousand  volumes. 

Thirty  years  have  elapsed  since  I  became  interested  in 
St.  Paul's  Church.  On  looking  back,  through  this  period, 
to  the  various  labors,  duties,  and  expenses  which  it  has  in 
volved,  I  feel,  on  the  whole,  satisfied  with  the  review.  Bred 
up  in  the  Congregational  church,  I  gave  the  preference  to 
the  Episcopal  form,  partly  on  account  of  its  antiquity,  but 
principally  on  account  of  its  solemnity.  A  large  part  of 
mankind  require,  for  the  excitement  of  religious  feelings, 
some  impression  on  the  imagination ;  and  this  acts  more 
efficiently  and  more  beneficially  on  this  class  than  a  very 
simple  form  would  do.  I  have  thought  that  a  more  im 
pressive  form  of  worship  might  -be  arranged  than  any  of 
those  that  now  exist,  so  far  as  I  know.  But  it  would  be 
rather  difficult  to  find  any  form  which  would  suit  all  classes 
better  than  the  Episcopalian. 


1820.]  PRAYERS.  167 

The  following  prayers,  selected  from  private  manu 
scripts,  as  showing  the  more  secret  devotional  feelings 
of  the  writer,  may  properly  be  introduced  in  this 
chapter.  The  one  in  behalf  of  a  sick  person  is 
written  with  an  intense  degree  of  earnestness.  Some 
of  them  are  composed  in  Latin.  Dr.  Warren's  fond 
ness  for  the  language  led  him  daily  to  read  a  short 
passage  from  one  of  the  Latin  authors. 

ETERNAL,  all-powerful  Lord  God,  most  holy,  omnipre 
sent  Spirit !  we,  thy  humble  offspring,  fall  down  before  thee  ; 
we  prostrate  ourselves  in  the  dust,  overpowered  by  the  con 
templation  of  thy  greatness,  and  by  the  weight  of  our  own 
unworthiness  and  misery. 

In  approaching  thee,  we  desire  to  humble  ourselves  before 
thee  ;  to  acknowledge  and  bewail  our  manifest  sins,  and  the 
wretchedness  of  our  condition.  We  are  corrupt ;  we  have 
strayed  from  the  way  of  life  and  happiness ;  we  have  done 
those  things  we  ought  not  to  have  done,  and  omitted  those 
we  ought  to  have  done.  Our  consciences  accuse  us,  and 
our  hearts  condemn  us.  Overpowered  by  the  burden  of  our 
sins,  how  shall  we  be  able,  or  be  so  daring  as,  to  look  up  to 
thy  purity  and  holiness  ? 

But,  0  God  !  we  repent;  we  repent  in  sorrow  and  in  tears. 
We  are  grieved  ;  we  accuse  and  condemn  ourselves,  and 
confess  that  our  multiplied  offences  render  us  unworthy  of 
thy  mercy.  We  have  sinned  against  thee  ;  we  have  sinned 
against  our  fellow-mortals  ;  we  have  sinned  against  our  own 
light  and  conviction ;  and  where  shall  we  look  for  pardon 
and  for  hope  ? 

To  whom,  0  merciful  Father!  can  we  turn,  but  to  thee, 
who  hast  promised  forgiveness  to  those  who  repent  truly  of 


168  RELIGION.  |>ET.  42. 

their  sins  ?  We  repent  in  dust  and  ashes.  We  pray  for  thy 
divine  forgiveness  and  pity.  In  the  name  of  Him,  whom 
with  infinite  mercy  thou  hast  sent  to  make  atonement  for 
us,  and  to  wash  out  with  his  blood  our  deepest  offences,  — 
in  his  name,  and  with  his  blood,  we  hope  and  desire  to 
be  cleansed  and  purified,  and  made  white  as  snow.  We 
ask  not  in  our  own  strength,  but  in  the  strength  of  our 
Redeemer.  We  ask  not  for  ourselves  only  ;  but,  through 
the  tender  love  of  our  Mediator,  we  ask  thy  commiseration, 
thy  pardon,  and  thy  paternal  care,  for  those  who  are  dear  to 
us,  —  for  our  friends,  our  relations,  and  for  the  whole 
human  race. 

0  gracious  God !  grant  that  our  future  lives  may  be 
pure,  holy,  and  acceptable  to  thee.  Grant  us  the  powerful 
aid  of  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  inspire  our  minds  with  good 
thoughts,  and  to  support  our  hearts  in  the  execution  of 
good  deeds.  May  we  be  led  to  thee  at  every  moment  and 
every  act  of  our  lives,  that  we  may  always  think  what  is 
good  in  thy  eyes,  and  perform  what  is  most  for  thy  service. 
Thus  may  we  be  filled  with  piety  towards  thee,  with  humi 
lity  for  ourselves,  and  with  love  for  our  fellow-men  ;  so  that, 
by  the  cultivation  of  sincere  religion  and  disinterested  bene 
volence,  our  souls  may  be  gradually  purified  and  elevated 
as  associates  for  the  spirits  of  the  just  and  the  angels  on 
high. 

With  submission  and  self-distrust,  we  ask  thy  temporal 
mercies  in  this  state  of  trial  and  difficulty.  For  our  friends 
we  would  ask  health,  life,  prosperity,  and  virtue ;  for  our 
selves  we  ask  whatever  it  may  please  thee  to  bestow  on  us, 
unworthy  as  we  are  of  any  blessing.  Thou  knowest  our 
wants  and  our  wishes.  Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  whatever  is 
good ;  and  withhold  what  is  hurtful.  But  grant  us,  above 
all  things,  to  be  always  in  the  way  that  leads  to  everlasting 


1820.]  PRAYERS.  169 

life  and  to  thy  glorious  presence,  and.  to  the  ever-blessed 
company  of  sages,  saints,  and  pious  men,  who  have  lived 
since  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

While  we  pray  for  thy  favor,  we  would  not  forget  to 
acknowledge  and  thank  thee  for  the  innumerable  and  un 
merited  blessings  we  enjoy.  We  thank  thee  for  our  being, 
our  reason,  and  all  the  mercies,  spiritual  and  temporal,  thou 
hast  been  pleased  to  bestow  on  us.  We  thank  thee,  above 
all,  for  thy  inconceivable  love  in  sending  into  the  world  thy 
Son  to  redeem  us  from  sin  and  eternal  death ;  and  espe 
cially  we  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  declared  the  glad  tidings 
of  divine  truth  and  salvation  to  us,  and  that  thou  hast 
opened  our  ears  to  hear  and  our  hearts  to  feel  them.  We 
thank  thee  also  for  what  thou  hast  denied,  as  for  that  thou 
hast  given.  Thou  knowest  best,  0  Lord !  and  to  thee  we 
would  wholly  commit  ourselves,  and  those  dear  friends  thou 
hast  given  us. 

And  now,  0  God !  we  would  venture  to  lift  our  eyes,  and 
to  praise  and  magnify  thee. 

Thou  alone  existest  from  eternity,  and  fillest  all  space ; 
thou  alone  art  all-wise,  all-powerful,  and  all-good ;  thou 
alone  art  wholly  inconceivable  to  our  minds.  The  thought 
of  thee  dazzles  and  overpowers  us,  and  strikes  us  down  to 
our  primitive  dust.  Great  and  glorious  Creator  of  thou 
sands  of  worlds  and  myriads  of  animated  natures,  pity  our 
weakness,  and  accept  our  homage.  And  because  we  cannot 
approach  thee,  even  in  thought,  we  would  address  all  our 
supplication  through  our  blessed  Mediator  and  Saviour,  and 
the  blessed  Spirit  thou  hast  sent  to  comfort  us. 

And  now  to  the  infinite  majesty  of  God  the  Father,  and 
God  the  Son,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  we  would  render 
praise  and  glory  inexpressible  and  eternal.  Amen. 


22 


170  RELIGION.  ^ET.  42. 


We  at  this  time  would  devoutly  elevate  our  thanks  and 
praises  to  Thee  that  it  has  pleased  thee  to  inspire  our  bishops 
and  clergy  with  sentiments  favorable  to  the  growth  of  evan 
gelical  and  vital  religion.  Touch  the  heart,  we  humbly 
beseech  thee,  of  those  who  view  with  coldness  the  zeal  and 
fervor  now  breaking  forth  in  this  church.  Inspire  them,  0 
Father  and  God  of  all  nations  !  with  a  disposition  to  promote 
the  knowledge  of  the  divine  word  among  these  hapless  and 
wretched  people,  who  sit  in  the  darkness  of  ignorance  and 
uncertainty ;  and,  when  they  are  again  called  to  consult  for 
the  spiritual  interests  of  their  people,  may  they  be  prepared 
to  lend  their  aid  to  awaken  the  sleeping  sinner  at  home, 
and  to  carry  the  light  of  the  gospel  to  those  that  in  darkness 
brood.  We  would  also  express  our  profound  gratitude  for 
the  blessings  poured  on  this  particular  church,  of  which  it 
has  pleased  thee  to  make  us  members.  We  thank  thee,  0 
gracious  God  !  for  all  the  means  and  opportunities  which 
thou  art  affording  and  increasing  to  iis  of  improvement  in 
the  knowledge  of  those  concerns  that  conduct  us  on  the  road 
of  eternal  life.  We  thank  thee  for  this  humble  Association  ; 
bless  it,  and  prosper  it,  and  make  it  a  means  of  grace  to 
ourselves  and  to  others.  We  thank  thee,  most  beneficent 
Parent,  that  it  hath  pleased  thee  to  put  it  into  the  hearts  of 
any  of  us  to  instruct  the  young  of  our  church  in  the  great 
doctrines  of  our  holy  religion.  Prosper  and  aid  all  those 
who  are  engaged  in  this  most  interesting  labor ;  expand  the 
hearts  of  those  in  their  charge,  that  they  may  readily  receive 
the  seeds  of  virtue,  and  bring  forth  fruits  of  immortal  life 
and  salvation. 


1820.]  PRAYERS.  171 

And  now,  0  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  in  full  faith  and  trust  of 
thy  life-giving  passion,  salutary  cross,  death,  burial,  and 
resurrection  from  the  dead  on  the  third  day ;  thy  ascension 
into  heaven,  and  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father ;  and 
looking  for  thy  second  glorious  and  terrible  advent,  when 
thou  shalt  come  again  with  glory  to  judge  the  quick  and  the 
dead,  and  shalt  render  to  every  one  according  to  his  works ; 
we  wretched  and  miserable  sinners  do  beseech  thee,  that 
thou  wouldst  not  deal  with  us  after  our  sins,  nor  reward  us 
after  our  iniquities,  but  according  to  thy  clemency  and  in 
effable  love  to  mankind,  overlooking  and  blotting  out  the 
handwriting  that  is  against  us  thy  servants,  wouldst  grant 
us  thy  heavenly  and  eternal  good  things ;  for  we,  thy  people 
and  thine  humble  offspring,  make  our  supplications  unto 
thee.  Have  mercy  upon  us,  0  Lord  God,  Almighty  Father ! 
have  mercy  upon  us,  according  to  thy  merciful  disposition  ; 
and  send  down  thy  Holy  Spirit  on  us  all,  through  the  ap 
pointed  means  and  channels  of  grace  in  thy  church,  for  the 
sanctification  of  soul  and  body,  for  bringing  forth  the  fruit 
of  good  works,  the  remission  of  sins,  and  the  life  ever 
lasting. 


EVER-PRESENT  GOD !  we  raise  our  voices  to  thee 
with  songs  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  We  thank  thee  that 
thou  hast  disposed  the  hearts  of  thy  creatures,  both  here  and 
in  other  parts  of  the  Christian  world,  to  send  the  good  news 
of  salvation  to  the  ignorant  and  idolatrous  heathen.  We 
magnify  thee,  that  the  star  once  manifested  to  the  Gentiles 
is  travelling  over  dark  and  obscure  regions,  and  everywhere 
shedding  abroad  the  light  of  life  and  salvation.  We  thank 
thee  for  the  rising  aspects  of  the  gospel  in  the  abolition  of 
idolatry,  superstition,  and  corruption,  and  the  substitution 
of  knowledge,  morality,  and  holiness. 


172  RELIGION. 


Adored  be  thine  infinite  mercy,  which  brought  the  joyful 
sound  to  the  land  of  our  nativity,  and  poured  out  to  us  a 
full  measure  of  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy  ;  that  our 
hearts  have  sometimes  been  warmed  to  good  dispositions, 
though  too  often  relapsing  into  a  languid  indifference. 
Remove  our  coldness,  and  increase  our  faith,  that  we  neg 
lect  not  so  great  salvation. 

We  acknowledge  with  hearts  full  of  gratitude  that  thou 
hast  taken  compassion  on  the  congregation  which  has  given 
birth  to  this  meeting.  .  .  .  More  especially  we  offer  up  our 
thanks,  that  thou  hast  granted  us  a  pastor  of  thy  appoint 
ment,  to  gather  the  wandering  flock,  and  feed  them  with  the 
reviving  and  renovating  fruits  of  thy  most  excellent  and 
soul-refreshing  word.  Support  and  animate  and  guide  him 
in  the  way  that  shall  lead  him  and  us  to  everlasting  life. 
And  we  most  humbly  beseech  thee,  0  Lord  !  to  comfort  and 
succor  those  among  us  who  in  this  transitory  life  are  in 
trouble,  sorrow,  need,  sickness,  or  any  other  adversity. 
And,  0  gracious  God  !  we  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  pre 
served  us  present  to  see  the  beginning  of  another  year  ; 
and,  by  continuing  the  blessings  of  life,  hast  invited  us  anew 
to  repentance.  Grant  that  this  mercy  may  not  be  in  vain, 
and  that  our  years  may  not  be  multiplied  to  multiply  the 
account  of  our  guilt. 

i$j  .  .  .  •-  v  •'-:  .  0  LORD, 
Father  and  King,  eternal,  infinite,  and  omnipresent  Fountain 
of  life  and  immortality,  Treasure  of  bliss  inexhaustible  and 
everlasting  !  the  heaven,  and  heaven  of  heavens,  and  all  the 
powers  therein,  render  praise  ;  and  we  poor  mortals,  sinful 
dust  and  ashes,  vile  and  unworthy  though  we  be,  do  yet 
desire  to  join  in  concert  with  that  heavenly  host,  and  say, 
"  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  the  heavens  and 
earth  are  full  of  the  majesty  of  thy  glory."  .  .  . 


1820.]  PRAYERS.  173 


FATHER  of  the  human  race,  Author  and  Preserver  of 
health  !  we  supplicate  thee  to  look  on  thy  servant,  whom 
thou  hast  been  pleased  to  afflict  with  many  and  long-con 
tinued  sufferings. 

0  God  !  we  acknowledge  the  justness  of  all  thy  visitations 
on  our  feeble  race.  We  know  and  confess  that  thou  hast  a 
right  to  visit  us  with  pain  and  sorrow,  both  as  our  Father 
and  our  offended  Judge.  We  complain  not,  0  God  !  of  any 
of  the  sufferings  thou  art  pleased  to  inflict  on  us.  We 
know  that  it  is  for  our  benefit  and  improvement ;  and  we 
feel  grateful  for  the  benign  expression  of  thy  care,  and  ten 
derness  for  our  weakness,  and  thy  peculiar  love  for  those 
whom  thou  hast  selected  as  subjects  for  severe  trials.  We 
bow  our  heads  in  submission  to  thy  righteous  will,  and 
breathe  not  a  murmur  at  the  dispositions  of  thy  divine 
power. 

While  we  submit  ourselves  entirely  to  thy  unerring  pro 
vidence,  we  supplicate  thy  tender  mercy  on  thy  servant,  for 
whom  we  venture  to  address  thy  divine  majesty.  In  judg 
ment  show  mercy,  0  God !  0  God  our  Saviour !  show  mercy 
to  thy  servant. 

Heal,  0  Lord  God !  the  wounds  it  has  pleased  thee  to 
inflict.  .  .  .  Speak  the  word,  0  blessed  Lord !  and  thy  ser 
vant  shall  be  healed. 

0  Lord  God  !  turn  not  away  from  our  petition,  and  listen 
to  our  prayer  and  supplication.  We  have  no  merit  to 
plead  ;  but  we  plead  only  for  mercy,  we  plead  in  His  name 
whom  thou  art  always  pleased  to  hear,  we  plead  earnestly 
and  ardently  and  with  agony,  0  God !  for  thy  compassion 
on  thy  servant,  for  relief  from  suffering,  and  restoration  to 
health. 


174  RELIGION.  [JErr.  42. 


Animate  that  heart  with  a  sense  of  the  fulness  of  thy 
presence  and  of  thy  goodness.  Raise  it  from  all  the  objects 
of  earth  to  thee,  the  only  Being  worthy  of  unmingled  love 
and  gratitude. 

We  would  present  our  humble,  fervent  prayer,  0  Father  ! 
in  the  name  of  Him  who  came  into  the  world  to  redeem  and 
save  us.  In  his  name  alone,  and  through  his  intercession, 
we  offer  all  our  supplication,  and  renew  all  our  petition. 
Through  his  blessed  mediation,  hear  us,  0  Lord  God !  Lis 
ten  to  our  prayers,  and  grant  our  request,  and 

All  the  glory  and  honor  be  to  the  Father,  the  Son,  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  through  the  ages  of  eternity.  Amen. 


0  ALMIGHTY  GOD!  who  hast  built  thy  universal 
church  on  the  foundation  of  the  prophets  and  apostles, 
Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner-stone ;  grant 
that,  by  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Christians  of 
this  thy  church  may  be  so  joined  together  in  unity  of  spirit 
as  to  be  a  holy  temple,  acceptable  to  thee.  Supply,  0 
heavenly  Father !  at  this  time,  their  spiritual  wants  with  a 
pastor  and  a  guide  inspired  with  the  knowledge  from  above, 
—  the  knowledge  of  thy  will,  through  the  gospel  of  thy 
beloved  Son,  —  and  that  he  may  direct  his  wandering  flock 
through  the  blessed  path  which  leads  to  the  springs  of  eter 
nal  life,  and  of  which  he  that  drinketh  shall  never  thirst. 
This  we  ask  in  the  name  of  our  blessed  Mediator,  Jesus 
Christ. 


1820.]  PRAYERS.  175 


BLESSED  LORD  GOD  !  at  whose  mighty  word  the  cor 
ners  of  the  earth  tremble,  and  the  mountains  shake  from 
their  foundations  ;  who  ridest  on  the  whirlwind,  and  who  di- 
rectest  the  storm ;  oh  !  let  thy  wrath  cease,  and  let  not  the 
fulness  of  thine  indignation  be  poured  upon  guilty  man., 
Thine  only-begotten  Son  did  leave  the  realms  of  bliss  to 
be  born,  as  at  this  period  we  commemorate,  of  flesh  and 
blood,  to  drink  deeply  of  the  bitter  cup  of  human  misery 
and  death.  Rejected  of  men,  — whom  he  came  down  to 
save,  —  he  was  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with 
grief;  he  was  persecuted  for  our  transgressions,  and 
bruised  for  our  iniquities ;  a  stranger  on  the  earth,  which 
was  fashioned  by  his  hands,  and  an  outcast  among  the  people 
whom  his  Father  had  created.  When,  therefore,  we  behold 
HIM  stretched  upon  the  cross  in  the  agonies  of  death,  how 
can  we  expect  to  escape  the  heavy  and  wrathful  displeasure 
of  the  Almighty  ?  Who  shall  redeem  us  from  the  burden  of 
our  sins  ?  who  shall  blot  out  our  iniquities  ?  who  shall  open 
the  gate  of  heaven,  and  bid  us  to  come  in  ?  Thou,  Lord, 
whom  we  have  persecuted  ;  thou,  Saviour  of  the  world, 
whom  we  have  so  often  smitten.  Thou  hast  made  thyself  a 
propitiation  for  the  wickedness  of  man,  and  hast  offered  up 
thine  own  immaculate  body  as  a  free-will  offering  and  sacri 
fice  for  his  transgression.  Thou  wilt  gather  the  repentant 
from  the  ends  of  the  universe,  and  thy  mercy  will  grant  what 
thy  judgment  would  withhold.  Oh  !  may  these  our  hopes 
be  confirmed  at  thy  mercy-seat.  Impress  on  us  for  ever 
these  awful  recollections ;  and,  in  the  hour  of  temptation, 
may  the  voice  of  conscience  breathe  in  our  hearts,  that  the 
mighty  Saviour  died  to  preserve  us  from  infinite  misery. 


176  RELIGION. 


0  FATHER !  have  compassion  on  the  different  members 
of  our  family  who  are  scattered  over  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Guard  them,  we  pray  thee,  from  accidents,  from  sickness, 
and  from  all  troubles.  But  especially,  0  God !  guard  them 
from  sin,  the  sickness  of  the  soul,  and  from  eternal  death. 
May  they  have  a  constant  sense  of  thy  existence  and  pre 
sence.  May  they  endeavor  to  serve  thee  constantly  and 
faithfully.  May  they  be  useful  in  their  day  and  generation. 
And  at  last,  0  Father !  admit  them  to  thy  blessed  kingdom, 
through  the  merits  and  blood  of  our  atoning  Redeemer. 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  177 


CHAPTER    XII. 

RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE. 

You  ask  me,  my  dear  friend,  what  Mr.  E.  means  by  faith. 
How  can  I  answer  this  question  to  a  mind  more  acute  and 
better  instructed  on  this  subject  than  my  own  ?  I  have  no 
doubt,  you  comprehend  the  object  he  had  in  view  better 
than  myself;  but  perhaps  we  may  view  his  opinions  in  a 
different  light.  Like  all  who  have  dwelt  much  on  one  sub 
ject,  he  sees  it  in  many  relations  which  would  not  present 
themselves  to  others  ;  and  it  is  by  the  attempt  to  display  all 
their  relations  we  are  confused,  and  get  no  distinct  impres 
sion  from  that  which  is  principal  and  pre-eminent.  What 
does  he  wish  us  to  believe  but  this  ?  —  that  faith  is  not  a  new 
nor  an  abstract  principle  ;  that,  of  itself,  it  is  nothing  but  a 
barren  speculation  ;  that,  to  make  it  fruitful,  we  must  cul 
tivate,  not  only  the  understanding,  but  the  heart,  and  bring 
into  its  service,  not  the  reasoning  power  alone,  but  the  affec 
tions.  We  must  feel  as  well  as  believe.  We  must  feel  the 
mighty  power  and  goodness  of  our  Creator ;  and  we  must 
realize  his  infinite  love  for  us  miserable  beings  in  sending 
us  a  revelation  of  his  character  and  his  will  by  his  blessed 
Son,  and  his  accepting  that  Son  as  an  offering  for  our  frail 
ties  and  transgressions,  and  listening  to  him  as  a  Mediator 
for  our  prostrated  and  penitent  souls.  When  the  love  of 
our  infinitely  beneficent  Parent  is  brought  into  our  view,  we 
are  not  to  satisfy  our  consciences  with  bowing  our  heads 
in  respect  and  adoration,  but  we  must  bring  our  whole  souls 

23 


178  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [^ET.  42. 

to  realize  his  transcendent  benevolence.  With  such  a 
temper  of  mind  cultivated  into  a  permanent  habit,  all  our 
thoughts  would  partake  of  love  for  that  Creator  who  has 
done  so  much  for  us  ;  and  this  love  would  banish  all  meaner 
thoughts,  all  the  trifles  of  time  and  space,  to  their  proper 
region.  This  blessed  spirit  of  love  would  influence  all  our 
social  actions ;  and,  beginning  in  the  narrow  sphere  which 
encircles  ourselves,  would  extend  to  all  men,  and  all  the 
animated  works  of  our  common  Father,  and  at  length 
return  and  rise  again  to  Him,  the  Source  of  love  and  hap 
piness. 

On  such  a  topic  it  would  be  easy  to  dilate.  I  will  only 
ask  this  question,  Why  did  our  Creator  explain  his  will  to 
us  by  his  divine  revelation  ?  Was  it  that  we  should  believe 
only  ?  or  was  it  that  we  should  believe  and  act  ? 

The  idea  of  a  salvation  by  faith  alone  is  as  strictly  con 
tradicted,  then,  by  reason,  as  it  is  by  positive  assertions  of 
revelation. 

Let  us  not,  then,  dare  to  trust  on  our  faith  alone.  If  our 
kind  Father  has  bestowed  on  us  his  Holy  Spirit  to  soften 
our  hard  hearts,  let  us  be  humbly  grateful  for  the  gift ;  but 
we  must  be  careful  —  oh,  how  careful !  —  not  to  glory  in 
it.  That  pride  were  the  most  dangerous  and  deadly  error, 
which  would  undermine  all  our  goodness,  and,  when  we 
thought  ourselves  most  strong,  would  leave  us  prostrate  in 
the  power  of  mortal  sin.  Our  faith,  if  we  have  it,  we  must 
be  most  grateful,  most  humbly  grateful,  for.  Our  hearts 
should  melt  in  thankfulness  at  the  recollection  of  the  divine 
favor.  We  must  nourish  and  cultivate  it  with  all  tender 
ness  and  affection,  and  produce  from  it  the  fruits  of  a,  good 
life, — a  life  held  in  the  performance  of  the  will  of  the  Author 
of  our  being ;  a  gradual  and  regular  elevation  of  character ; 
so  that  every  thought  and  every  act  should  bring  us 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  179 

nearer  to  Him,  with  whom  we  humbly  hope  to  live  through 
eternity. 

That  this  may  be  your  lot  and  mine,  let  us  pray  with 
out  ceasing.  In  this  hope,  all  my  aspirations  to  our  hea 
venly  Father  are  breathed  from  day  to  day.  For  this 
blessing  I  pray,  —  might  I  not  say,  above  all  others  ?  —  that 
we  should  be  holier,  wiser,  and  better,  and  at  length  ascend 
from  this  scene  of  trial  and  suffering  to  that  assembly  of 
blessed  spirits,  where  every  thought  shall  be  free,  and  as 
holy  as  free. 


BOSTON,  Feb.  9,  1832. 

When  I  have  been  out  in  the  night,  and  return 

home  at  one  or  two  in  the  morning,  —  the  town  buried  in 
the  deepest  repose,  —  I  reflect  that  sixty  thousand  people 
are  immersed  in  forgetfulness,  and  are  unconscious  of  the 
bright  moon  and  the  still,  breathless  atmosphere ;  and  not 
a  sound  meets  my  ear  but  the  distant  heavy  roar  of  the 
beaches  at  Nahant  and  Lynn  ;  —  my  spirit,  unencumbered, 
rises  to  Him  from  whom  it  emanated,  and  pours  out  its 
gratitude  for  its  existence,  its  blessings,  and  its  hopes. 

I  saw  to-day  a  book  on  Enthusiasm,  which,  from  the 
account  of  it  given  me,  must  be  good ;  and  I  will  send  it  to 
you.  The  religious  condition  of  this  community  seems 
to  me  in  a  sort  of  quietude,  which  presages  some  con 
siderable  movement.  Little  appears  to  be  doing ;  but  there 
are  many  good  books  published  and  read,  the  Sunday 
schools  are  active,  and  a  multitude  of  associations  are 
occupied  in  diffusing  religion  and  morality.  The  change 
in  the  matter  of  spirituous  drinks  seems  to  me  little  less 
than  miraculous,  and  fills  me  with  pleasure  and  expecta 
tion.  The  winter  of  Boston  has  been  mild,  till  within  the 


180  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [^Ex.  42. 

last  three  weeks.  We  have  the  thermometer  frequently  at 
zero,  and  the  surface  of  the  earth  covered  with  a  magni 
ficent  bed  of  snow,  which  bids  fair  to  remain  through  the 
winter.  The  European  winter  set  in  two  months  earlier  than 
ours,  which  was  unfortunate  for  our  friends  in  France. 

My  winter  has  been  a  happy  and  a  prosperous  one ;  far 
more  than  I  could  expect,  or  did  deserve.  With  good 
health,  and  reasonable  time  to  attend  to  my  lectures,  the 
losses  I  experienced  in  the  manufactory  business  repairing, 
although  I  received,  as  usual,  some  violent  shocks,  I  daily 
raised  my  thoughts  in  thankfulness  to  the  Most  High  for 
the  multitude  of  blessings  showered  on  so  unworthy  a  head. 
My  designs  have  been  prospered,  my  labors  accomplished 
and  settled,  my  whole  concerns  arranged  ;  so  that,  if  it 
pleased  the  Author  of  my  being  to  remove  me  from  this 
earth  to-night,  I  should  have  nothing  to  say,  —  no  account 
to  settle  but  one ;  and  for  that  one  I  confess  myself  inade 
quate  and  incompetent.  This  last  and  most  dreadful  reck 
oning  I  feel  myself  unable  to  pay ;  and  how  wretched  would 
the  thought  make  me  feel,  were  it  not  for  my  faith  and 
hope  in  Him  who  has  with  his  own  blood  washed  out  the 
heavy,  the  incalculable  debt !  Lost  in  the  contemplation  of 
never-ending  deficiencies,  I  turn  to  Him,  and  bow  my  soul 
at  the  foot  of  his  'atoning  cross,  in  humblest  penitence  and 
regret.  How  much  of  my  life  was  spent  in  thoughtlessness 
and  folly,  before  the  light  began  to  shine  on  my  dark  and 
devious  road  !  and,  even  since,  how  often  have  my  thoughts 
strayed  far  from  Him  who  is  alone  the  way,  the  truth,  and 
the  life !  .  .  .  Now  never  do  I  pass  the  General  Thanksgiv 
ing  of  our  church,  without  including  my  thanks  for  the 
"  means  of  grace  and  the  hope  of  glory." 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  181 

BOSTON,  Aug.  16,  1832. 

I  should  have  written  to  you  sooner,  but  waited  in  the 
hope  of  Mr.  Crocker  fulfilling  his  promise  of  procuring  me 
Combe's  book ;  which,  I  presume,  he  found  it  impossible  to 
do.  I  send  you,  in  lieu  of  it,  "  Saturday  Evening,"  thinking 
you  possibly  may  not  have  procured  it ;  or  that,  if  you  have, 
you  will  have  a  copy  to  give  to  your  friends.  Boston  con 
tinues  perfectly  healthy,  and  without  precursory  symptoms 
of  the  epidemic.  This  has  been  the  case  in  other  places. 
The  occurrences  at  the  State  Prison,  which  you  have  seen 
in  the  papers,  appear  to  me  to  have  arisen  from  some  ar 
ticle  of  bad  food,  affecting  persons  in  a  confined  atmosphere, 
who  were  predisposed  by  the  season,  and  by  some  unusual 
atmospheric  influence,  to  have  the  disease ;  for  the  affec 
tion  occurred  at  the  Charlestown  Almshouse,  and  at  the 
House  of  Industry  in  South  Boston,  No  person  has  died, 
nor  is  expected  to  die,  in  any  of  these  places.  The  epi 
demic  is  extending  itself  into  Virginia.  The  last  report 
from  Norfolk  is  thirty-four  new  cases  ;  Philadelphia,  about 
a  hundred  and  forty ;  New  York,  diminishing.  I  have  a 
letter  from  the  last  city,  of  August  10,  which  firmly 
asserts  the  fact,  that  no  deaths  have  occurred  in  temperate 
and  cleanly  persons,  unless  by  some  imprudent  exposure. 

My  health  and  that  of  my  family  are  good.  We  continue 
to  follow  Dr.  Hopkins,  who  is  doing  great  good.  The  last 
lecture  was  crowded  to  a  degree;  large  numbers  being 
obliged  to  stand  in  the  aisles.  Every  lecture,  even  when 
the  weather  has  not  been  favorable,  has  been  fully  attended. 

The  weather,  the  last  three  days,  has  been  magnificent, 
and  has  spread  a  lustre  over  the  beautiful  surface  of  nature, 
which  swells  the  feelings  with  gratitude  to  the  God  of  the 
universe.  How  inexpressibly  fine  must  be  the  mountain 
scenery  now  !  Oh  !  I  assure  you,  I  am  there  in  spirit  to  sym- 


182  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [^ET.  42. 

pathize  in  the  greatness  and  the  beauty  of  that  wild  place. 
Farewell,  my  dear  friend  :  neither  the  mountain  air,  nor  the 
fine  scenery,  nor  a  delightful  retirement,  will  give  you 
health,  without  constant  attention  to  yourself,  and  a  serene 
mind,  which  you  know  when  to  find,  and  where  only  it  is 
to  be  found.  Write  to  me  of  your  ascent ;  and  believe  me, 

as  ever, 

Your  friend, 

JOHN  C.  WAEREN. 


BOSTON,  Sept.  1,  1832. 

I  have  been  trying,  for  some  days,  to  get  an  opportunity 
of  thanking  you  for  your  very  delightful  letter,  and  inform 
ing  you  how  we  get  on.  There  have  been  now  four  cases 
of  cholera :  the  last  occurred  yesterday  in  a  poor  drinking 
woman  of  bad  character.  I  examined  the  body  of  the  first 
who  died,  and  was  over  it  from  one  to  two  hours,  on  one  of 
our  hottest  afternoons,  and  without  the  least  inconvenience. 
The  appearances  were  very  striking  and  interesting,  and 
characteristic  of  the  complaint.  It  gratified  me  to  have  an 
opportunity  of  showing  my  profession  and  the  public,  that 
these  examinations  could  be  made  without  danger  of  con 
tagion.  The  public  mind  is  evidently  more  tranquil  than 
before  the  disease  appeared  here.  How  it  will  be  when  the 
complaint  is  more  extended,  is  not  perfectly  certain.  The 
premonitory  affection  has  been  pretty  general  for  some  time 
back.  This  with  other  considerations  lead  to  the  expecta 
tion  of  more  cases.  My  afternoons  must  now  be  employed 
in  visiting  patients,  instead  of  riding  into  the  country. 

I  am  sorry  you  think  of  leaving  P.,  because  the  air  is  so 
pure,  and  the  place  so  retired.  There  are  bounds  to  the 
pleasures  of  solitude,  and  perhaps  you  have  reached  them. 
I  heard  of  your  case  of  Miss  ,  and  remarked  to  my 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  183 

informant  how  fortunate  it  was  she  had  the  aid  of  a  mind 
disciplined  to  do  good,  without  dread  of  consequences.  If 
I  rightly  understand  the  matter,  your  house  is  so  far 
cleansed  that  you  can  admit  new  comers.  I  do  not  expect 
to  be  there  myself:  the  amount  of  sickness  is  too  great. 

Do  not  cease  to  give  me  your  prayers.  I  cannot  describe 
the  satisfaction  I  have  in  the  assurance,  that  I  have  one 
who  intercedes  with  Him,  —  who  is  ready  to  intercede  for 
all ;  and  the  affairs  of  life  make  me  so  negligent,  that  I 
greatly  feel  the  want  of  such  aid. 


BOSTON,  Dec.  10,  1832. 

How  dependent  we  are  on  others  for  happiness,  instead 
of  looking  to  the  supreme  Source  of  good  alone  for  all 
our  comforts  !  I  was  delighted  with  the  extracts  from  Miss 
G.'s  letters,  and  have  made  use  of  them  to  give  consolation 
where  it  was  much  required. 

This  extraordinary  cholera  has  disappeared  from  Boston 
long  since  ;  but,  about  three  weeks  ago,  it  broke  out  in  the 
House  of  Industry,  and  has  carried  off  thirty  to  forty  poor 
people.  The  School  of  Anatomy  has  reaped  benefit  from 
this  visitation ;  for  these  subjects  do  not  decompose  like 
others,  being  drained  of  fluids,  and,  of  course,  dry  arid 
wholesome.  —  Otherwise,  we  are  admirably  healthy  here. 
We  have  had  snow ;  but  now  the  weather  is  mild  and 
moist. 

Our  minister  gains  on  public  opinion.  Last  week  were 
sold  seven  pews  in  the  church  ;  giving  us  seven  new  propri 
etors.  The  Tuesday-evening  lectures  have  begun,  and  have 
exceeded  our  expectations.  Bishop  Hopkins  has  gone  with 

all  his  family  to  Vermont.  Mrs.  died  fourteen  days 

since.  She  suffered  much  before  death;  and,  the  day  pre- 


184  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [Ml.  42. 

vious,  said  to  me,  "  When  will  this  terminate  ? "  I  told 
her  these  sufferings  were  the  visitation  of  Supreme  Good 
ness,  and  ought  not  to  be  met  with  impatience,  but  a  full 
confidence  in  his  goodness,  and  resignation  to  his  decrees. 
To  this  she  appeared  fully  to  assent.  That  night  she  suf 
fered  quietly.  The  next  was  peaceful,  but  heavy.  At  six, 
P.M.,  she  lost  her  consciousness,  and  died  at  nine.  I  was 
present,  which  she  much  desired,  at  the  time.  I  received 
her  last  sigh,  closed  her  eyes,  and  composed  her  limbs. 
She  died  sitting  up  in  a  chair.  I  found,  as  I  had  informed 
both  her  and  her  friends,  the  left  side  of  the  chest  full 
of  water.  She  left  precise  directions  as  to  her  funeral, 
and  distributed  mementoes  to  her  friends.  It  is  a  subject 
of  deep  regret  to  me  that  I  had  not  opportunity  to  converse 
more  fully  on  the  affairs  of  another  state  of  being.  But  it 
was  impracticable.  Her  friends  were  always  present.  It 
was  only  at  momentary  intervals  of  their  absence,  that  she 
seemed  willing  to  approach  the  subject  of  religion.  She  is 
in  the  hands  of  a  gracious  God.  May  he  pardon  and  accept 
her! 

Mrs. continues  very  ill,  though  not  absolutely  fail 
ing.  Her  mind  is  devoted  principally  to  preparations  for 
the  great  change. 

How  do  you  get  on  ?  How  are  your  brother  and  the 
little  girl  ?  Remember  me  to  my  patient,  the  old  black 
woman.  I  hope  the  climate  of  Georgia  suits  her  better 
than  ours. 


BOSTON,  Aug.  26,  1833. 

It  is  quite  a  gratification  to  me  to  learn  that  Princeton 
and  Wachusett  continue  to  be  interesting  to  you.  I  formed 
an  affection  for  the  mountain  long  before  I  approached  it. 
Whether  this  sentiment  was  inspired  by  the  mystery  which 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  185 

seems  to  hang  over  the  summit,  and  the  dark  recesses  of  a 
lofty  mountain ;  or  its  grandeur,  as  part  of  a  fine  piece  of 
scenery  ;  or  whether  its  sublimity  raises  our  thoughts  more 
near  to  the  great  Author  than  other  objects, — I  know  not. 
I  leave  the  question  to  your  mind.  The  description  of  the 
scenery  of  the  thunder-shower,  and  the  golden  vapors 
which  followed  it,  were,  to  me,  inexpressibly  grand  and 
elevating.  .  .  . 

.  .  .  When  we  ascend  such  an  elevation,  filled  as  we 
always  are  with  the  human  world  which  is  about  us,  and 
find,  that,  of  the  multitude  of  living  beings  we  have  left 
below,  not  one  individual  is  visible,  —  then,  indeed,  we  can 
realize  the  insignificance  of  man,  and  the  greatness  of  his 
Creator. 

The  hints  respecting  the  direction  of  the  thoughts  of 
young  people,  I  prize  ;  and  shall,  I  hope,  be  able  to  make  use 
of  them  in  practice. 

We  have  letters  to-day  from  M .     Mr.  and  Mrs. 

are  in   Paris.      She   looks   remarkably  well.     Mr. is 

under  the  hands  of  Dupuytren ;  laid  on  his  back,  but  with 
out  the  apprehension  of  any  serious  result.  Dr.  B has 

arrived  home,  our  nephew  G ,  and  my  son.     The  town 

continues  perfectly  healthy,  and  is  quite  filled  with  strangers, 
among  whom  I  have  discovered  some  interesting  persons. 
The  convocation  of  teachers,  too,  is  in  session ;  and  to-day 
there  was  a  discussion  on  phrenology.  I  was  asked  to 
attend ;  but  I  think  my  thoughts  and  reflections,  such  as 
they  are,  may  be  directed  to  more  profitable  subjects.  For 
the  last  two  or  three  weeks,  I  have  been  employed  in  the 
daily  study  of  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  Corinthians,  with  the 
hope  of  being  enabled  to  associate  my  thoughts  more  closely 
with  a  view  of  the  immense  and  eternal  unseen  ;  and  I 
have  run  over,  in  connection  with  it,  the  evidences  of  Bon- 

24 


186  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [^T.  42. 

net,  with  great  satisfaction.     Wilberforce  is  dead.     What 
recollections  does  this  name  revive ! 


BOSTON,  Aug.  24, 1834. 

Not  a  word  have  I  heard  from  you,  my  dear  friend,  since  I 
left  Boston.  It  is  now  too  old  a  matter  to  ask  about ;  but 
I  should  have  been  glad  to  know  how  you  got  on  with  my 

friend  Mrs. ,  as  I  did  not  see  her  after  her  return.     I 

cast  my  eyes  towards  the  high  mountain,  as  it  were,  to  get 
some  news  of  you  ;  but  the  mountain,  and  the  clouds  which 
cover  it,  speak  only  of  their  great  Author.  Do  you  recollect 
the  lines  in  Montgomery's  poem  on  the  Deity  ?  I  do  not 
know  any  thing  of  poetry  that  comes  nearer  to  my  heart. 

"  There  is  a  voiceless  eloquence  on  earth, 
Telling  of  Him  who  gave  her  wonders  birth; 
And  long  may  I  remain  the  adoring  child 
Of  Nature's  majesty,  sublime  or  wild. 
Hill,  flood,  and  forest,  mountain,  rock,  and  sea, 
All  take  their  terrors  and  their  charms  from  thee,  — 
From  thee,  whose  hidden  but  supreme  control 
Moves  through  the  world,  a  universal  soul."     • 

You  may  recollect  I  have  mentioned  to  you,  there  is  a 
spot  at  South  Boston,  where,  from  the  road,  you  get  a  fine 
view  of  the  summit  of  Wachusett.  I  never  pass  without 
straining  my  eyes  to  get  a  glimpse  of  it.  Some  of  my  ear 
liest  and  most  pleasant  associations  are  connected  with  it ; 
and  this  interest  is  strengthened  by  its  having  been  the 
scene  of  the  last  journey  I  took  with  my  departed  friend 
Dr.  Gorham. 

We  have  letters  from  Mr.  S ,  our  minister,  who  in 
forms  us  he  shall  return  in  October.  In  the  mean  time,  St. 
Paul's  is  closed  on  account  of  its  repairs.  Dr.  B is 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  187 

here,  and  has  been  thundering  against  the  Catholics ;  rather 
unfortunately,  as  the  burning  of  the  convent  took  place  the 

day  after  his  sermon.     Mr. ,  of  Salem  Street,  preached 

at  Nahant  last  Sunday ;  and,  having  a  chance  at  a  fair  shot 
at  the  Unitarian  congregation  which  resort  there,  he  dis 
charged  on  them  the  full  doctrine  of  original  sin  ;  whereas, 
had  he  have  given  them  a  mild  sermon  with  the  surprising 
talent  in  which  he  is  so  rich,  they  would  have  said,  "  These 
Calvinists  are  not  quite  so  bad  as  we  thought." 

Boston  is  filled  with  strangers,  and  among  them  a  num 
ber  of  Georgians. 


BOSTON,  Jan.  25,  1835. 

Your  letter,  my  dear  friend,  I  received  in  proper  time. 
Before  its  reception,  I  had  already  written  and  forwarded 
one  to  you.  The  hand  of  Providence  has  been  conspicuous 
in  sparing  your  people  from  the  ravages  of  the  epidemic ; 
and  I  have  no  doubt  you  have  employed  the  remarkable 
preservation  to  place  in  strong  light  the  divine  goodness  as 
well  as  power.  The  miracles  of  nature  and  of  grace  are 
too  familiar  to  awaken  our  sensibilities  ;  but  a  personal  pre 
servation  rouses  all  our  love  and  gratitude.  Since  I  wrote 
you,  our  Mr.  Stone  has  been  most  industriously  employed 
in  endeavoring  to  bring  his  people  to  more  distinct  and 
decided  feelings  on  religious  subjects.  His  sermons  have 
been  excellent,  and  delivered  with  that  expression  of  inte 
rest  and  zeal  that  convinced  them  how  much  he  himself  felt 
for  their  welfare.  He  had  a  meeting  of  three  successive 
days  in  St.  Paul's,  at  which  were  assembled  the  most  evan 
gelical  part  of  the  Episcopal  clergy.  The  intensity  of  the 
cold  at  the  time  prevented  much  attendance  on  the  part  of  the 


188  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [^ET.  42. 

people :  besides,  they  really  did  not  understand  its  object. 
After  tbe  meetings,  he  assembled  the  ladies  of  the  parish 
at  his  house,  and  made  them  better  acquainted  with  his 
views.  A  large  society  was  immediately  formed  to  aid  him  ; 
and  this  will  be  probably  followed  by  a  similar  one  of  the 
other  sex.  His  Bible-class  is  re-opened,  and  fully  attended. 
The  church  is  small  in  numbers ;  and  I  cannot  but  hope 
there  will  arise  a  spirit  of  a  healthy  and  permanent  nature. 

I  came  in  contact  with  your 

sister,  a  short  time  since,  at  a  poor  lady's  (Mrs.  Baldwin's), 
who  had  lost  her  two  remaining  children,  where  she  was 
employed  in  administering  the  only  consolation  and  relief 
which  applies  itself  to  such  a  distressing  case.  Mrs.  Bald 
win  told  me  she  had  received  the  fullest  satisfaction  and 

comfort  from  the  visits  of  Mrs.  G ;  that  she  was  entirely 

satisfied  of  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  decree  which 
had  deprived  her  of  all  her  children.  She  is  now  herself 
affected  with  the  fever  which  proved  fatal  to  her  sons ;  and 
will  probably  soon  rejoin  them,  where  disease  shall  be  known 
no  more.  By  the  brig  "  William,"  Ira  Smith,  master,  I  send 
you  "  Combe,"  u  McLellan,"  and  some  pamphlets.  I  wish 
I  could  find  you  something  else.  Is  there  any  thing  I  can 
send  for  your  people  ?  Remember  me  to  your  family,  and 
to  Daphne,  who,  I  am  pleased  to  hear,  thought  of  me. 
After  a  tremendous  turn  of  cold  weather,  the  last  three 
weeks  have  been  spring-like.  Pray  take  good  care  of  your 
health,  and  let  me  know  how  you  are. 

Faithfully  yours, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  189 


BOSTON,  March  6, 1836. 

Your  interesting  letter  I  received  in  proper  time.  The 
death  of  Dr.  Charlton  was  rather  unusual  in  its  form ;  but 
I  feel  satisfied  that  no  physician  and  no  human  aid  could 
have  varied  the  course  of  this  disease.  Our  beneficent  Pa 
rent  has  bestowed  the  knowledge  of  many  wonderful  virtues 
in  plants  and  minerals,  and  we  must  be  grateful  for  it ; 
while,  on  the  other  part,  every  day  and  every  hour  present 
instances  of  the  utter  helplessness  of  human  art.  The  trials 
you  have  gone  through  are  the  refiners  of  the  heart,  —  the 
purifiers  of  the  spirit  from  its  earthly  dross.  The  more  you 
are  tried,  the  more  perfect  your  renovation.  You  have  had 
much  to  suffer,  and  much  to  enjoy.  What  an  influence  it 
has  pleased  the  great  Disposer  of  events  to  give  you  over  the 
minds  of  others  !  Be  thankful  for  it,  and  be  humble. 

I  have  not  seen  your  sister's  family  lately ;  but  I  appre 
hend  their  temporalities  are  much  improved  by  the  happy 
termination  of  the  French  negotiation.  And  I  most  sin 
cerely  rejoice  in  it ;  believing,  as  I  do,  that  adversity  has  so 
deeply  planted  in  their  hearts  the  seeds  of  pious  thoughts, 
that  no  luxuriance  of  prosperity  can  root  them  out.  .  .  . 

Our  winter  has  been  a  fine  one.  The  first  snow  fell  on 
the  28d  of  November  ;  and,  from  that  day,  there  has  been  an 
intermisson  of  sleighing  of  two  or  three  days  only.  At  pre 
sent,  the  snow  lies  about  two  or  three  feet  deep  in  most  parts 
of  the  country.  On  the  sixth  day  of  March,  the  snow 
banks,  or  rather  ice-banks,  are  so  high,  that,  in  the  cross- 
ways  in  Washington  Street,  steps  are  cut  from  the  side 
ways  (two  or  three  in  number)  to  enable  us  to  traverse 
the  street.  Still,  it  has  been  a  fine,  healthy  season  ;  and  the 
whole  country  is  in  a  most  favorable  condition  for  vege 
tation. 


190  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [JET.  42. 

Your  suggestions  of  the  expediency  of  making  a  change 
in  my  professional  pursuits  have  sunk  deep  into  my  heart ; 
and  I  feel  more  than  ever  a  deep  sense  of  my  omissions,  and 
a  desire  for  retirement  from  the  world  to  repair  them. 
There  is  a  thought  which  stands  in  my  way.  I  ask  myself, 
what  were  the  purposes  of  the  Creator  in  placing  me  here, 
giving  me  experience,  and  the  power  of  administering  relief 
to  my  fellow-mortals  ?  Which  will  be  most  agreeable  in  his 
eyes, —  a  life  of  pious  thought,  or  of  useful  action  ?  Is  not 
the  daily  recognition  of  his  power  and  providence,  when  in 
termixed  with  all  the  acts  of  life,  a  more  acceptable  offering 
than  retirement  and  contemplation  ?  Cannot  I  accomplish 
more  by  pouring  into  the  ear,  which  sickness  has  opened,  a 
seasonable  word  on  righteousness,  temperance,  and  judg 
ment  to  come,  than  a  reputed  religionist  could  do  ?  A 
friend  of  mine,  to  whom  I  was  expressing  my  painful  sense 
of  the  omission  of  some  occasional  religious  duties,  told  me, 
"  Many  people  consider  you  a  fanatic  !  "  I  must  stop,  and 
leave  these  matters  for  a  personal  discussion,  if  it  should 
be  the  will  of  God  that  we  meet  again  on  earth. 

What  led  to  the  conversation  alluded  to,  was  the  discovery 
that  some  members  of  our  church  were  thought  to  be  mak 
ing  movements  for  getting  up  a  revival.  A  real  springing- 
up  of  religious  feeling  among  us  I  ardently  wish  for.  A 
revival  brought  on  by  certain  machinery,  I  fear,  can  do  us 
no  real  good.  Yet  I  would  not  stand  in  its  way. 

Have  you  ever  seen  Noah  Webster's  translation  of  the 
Bible  ?  It  has  been  much  satirized  ;  but  I  have  rather  a 
favorable  feeling  towards  it. 

Present  my  kind  regards  to  your  friends,  not  forgetting 
my  former  colored  patient ;  and  accept  the  sincere  saluta 
tions  of  J.  C.  WARREN. 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  191 

BOSTON,  May  1,  1836. 

I  wish  you  could  have  disclosed  to  me  the  sources  of  your 
anxiety  when  you  last  wrote.  .  .  .  When  you  are  troubled 
by  things  here  below,  look  upwards,  and  you  will  see  a  light 
that  will  dispel  these  transient  clouds.  There  is  nothing 
that  is  great  enough  here  to  be  a  cause  of  two  days'  excite 
ment.  I  use  the  physiological  or  naturo-pathological  term  ; 
knowing  you  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  take  lessons  in 
these  sciences  —  i.  e.,  physiology  and  pathology  —  from 
an  elevated  source,  and  that  etiology  has  not  escaped  your 
attention. 

The  snows  have  dissolved,  and  we  have  now  a  fine  spring 
temperature ;  but  I  have  witnessed  this  day  a  solid  cake  of 
ice,  twelve  or  fourteen  feet  long  and  a  foot  thick.  I  wish 
you  had  given  me  an  account  of  your  winter  ;  for  I  am  curi 
ous  on  that  point,  and  like  much  to  know  what  is  going  on 
in  different  parts  of  the  globe  at  the  same  moment. 

Our  Mr.  S is  quite  in  spirits.  His  convocation  was 

fully  attended ;  his  lectures  have  been  more  resorted  to, 
and  the  appearance  of  religious  feeling  more  sensible  in  his 

church.  Dr.  W has  been  threatening  to  go  to  New 

York ;  and,  having  abandoned  this  idea,  is  now  going  on  a 
voyage  to  England.  .  .  . 

Your  views  of  my  position  are  very  correct  and  very  use 
ful.  It  is  difficult  for  any  one  to  see  himself,  take  what 
pains  he  may,  unless  he  has  a  friend  to  hold  the  mirror. 
My  estimation  of  the  things  of  this  world  is  very  moderate. 
My  heart  is  with  my  God  and  Saviour,  I  know.  I  desire  to 
live  only  in  his  sight,  and  to  promote  his  will.  Yet  weak 
ness,  and  want  of  judgment,  and  the  defect  of  early  feeling 
and  habit,  lead  me  to  omit  the  things  I  ought  to  do.  One 
thing  I  do  not  omit,  —  a  frequent  contemplation  of  the 
final,  irrevocable,  arid  speedy  change  ;  and,  trusting  humbly 


192  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [>£T.  42. 

in  the  atoning  blood  of  my  Redeemer,  I  hope  my  omissions 
and  transgressions  may  be  washed  away,  and  my  aspirations 
for  the  Supreme  Good  wafted  to  the  Eternal  Presence. 


BOSTON,  27th  of  November,  1836. 

What  a  world  of  new  ideas  have  yon  opened  to  me,  by 
recommending  the  "  Physical  Theory  of  Another  Life  "  ! 
Certainly  it  is  one  of  the  most  ingenious  theories  and 
closely  argued  works  in  our  language.  It  carries  us  into 
the  invisible  world  by  steps  so  gradual,  that  we  can  scarcely 
believe  we  are  soaring  above  the  atmosphere  of  our  good  old 
mother  earth.  However,  we  are  still  inhabitants  of  this 
sublunary  planet ;  and  so  I  will  proceed  to  tell  you  a  little 
of  what  has  been  going  on  here.  Our  good  rector  has  had 

* 

a  call  to  a  newly  formed  parish  in  Brooklyn,  N.Y. 

Mr.  Clark  is  settled  at  Grace  Church.  If  he  holds  out 
as  he  has  begun,  he  will  be  an  extraordinary  person.  Mr. 
has  gone,  though  reluctantly.  H.  was  so  much  trou 
bled  about  it  as  to  be  perfectly  deranged  in  health,  and  is 
now  under  my  care  for  a  hepatic  complaint,  but  not  con 
fined  at  home  by  it.  ...  His  domestic  establishment  I  found 
entirely  revolutionized,  —  not  a  person  that  I  knew.  Whitee 
came  to  see  me  before  her  departure,  and  took  an  affection 
ate  leave.  We  have  had  a  melancholy  event  in  the  death 
of  my  niece,  —  this  in  her  first  confinement.  She  died  in 
the  possession  of  full  consciousness  of  her  state,  and  took  an 
affectionate  leave  of  all  about  her.  I  congratulate  you  on 
being  out  of  our  cold  region.  In  the  last  three  days,  we 
have  had  a  most  wintry  clime,  —  below  freezing  through 
the  day,  which  is  rare  in  winter. 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  193 

I   have  thought  much   of  your  advice  in  regard   to  a 
voyage. 

May  the  Almighty  protect  you,  and   receive   you   into 
everlasting  mansions  of  bliss  ! 

J.  C.  W. 


PAKIS,  Dec.  10,  1837. 

MY  DEAR  FKIEND,  —  When  we  heard  of  the  loss  of  the 
steamboat,  there  was  some  doubt  whether  it  was  a  Charles 
ton  or  Savannah  boat ;  so  that  you  may  well  think  I  had  no 
little  anxiety  till  the  facts  were  known.  As  such  accidents 
produce  additional  care  for  a  season,  your  voyage  will  be 
more  secure  than  usual.  Your  sufferings,  physical  and 
mental,  in  regard  to  your  trouble,  I  have  thought  a  good 
deal  of.  As  you  have  got  relieved,  and  I  trust  effectually,  it 
is  perhaps  better  that  you  slumld  have  been  under  the  care 
of  one  who  had  not  exactly  the  tremulous  interest  of  a  near 
relation.  Pray  let  me  know,  when  next  you  write,  whether 
you  are  quite  well.  After  I  wrote  you,  we  had  a  long 
and  pleasant  expedition  in  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  and 
Wales.  Among  the  places  which  most  deeply  interested 
me  was  York.  We  were  there  of  a  beautiful,  bright  Sun 
day.  In  the  morning,  I  left  my  hotel  alone,  and  walked  to 
see  the  Cathedral.  I  had  heard  very  much  of  it ;  but  when 
this  tremendous  structure,  with  its  dark  walls  and  towers 
and  pinnacles,  burst  suddenly  upon  me,  the  sublime  spec 
tacle,  though  I  am  not  given  to  the  melting  mood,  almost 
brought  tears.  Near  it  are  the  very  ancient,  extensive,  and 
beautiful  views  of  the  Abbey  of  St.  Mary.  Towards  sunset, 
I  started  through  the  crumbling,  Gothic  vaults,  among 
scattered  columns  and  richly  wrought  capitals ;  thought  of 
the  long-past  hymns  which  their  ruins  had  echoed  ;  thought 
of  distant  friends  and  a  futurity,  —  how  distant,  I  know  not. 

25 


194  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [JET.  42. 

As,  however,  my  object  is  to  see  men  rather  than  things, 
I  have,  as  much  as  possible,  passed  my  time  in  the  great 
cities.  In  Edinburgh  I  found  extraordinary  kindness  and 
hospitality,  and  made  some  valuable  acquaintances ;  among 
others,  that  of  a  lady,  who,  accidentally  hearing  that  we 
were  there,  called  on  us  because  we  were  Americans,  asked 
us  to  her  house,  and  continued  her  attentions  and  hospitali 
ties  all  the  time  of  our  visit.  I  was  anxious  to  see  Mr.  Ers- 
kine,  our  old  friend,  who  has  given  us  so  many  topics  for 
conversation.  But  he  is  now  placed  quietly  forty  miles  from 
Edinburgh  ;  has  relinquished  Tongues  and  Irvingism  ;  and  is 
deeply  engaged  in  writing  a  commentary  on  Romans.  I 
sought  the  Church  of  Tongues  ;  and,  as  nobody  could  give  me 
any  distinct  information,  found  it  with  difficulty  ;  entered  as 
service  was  about  to  begin.  Instead  of  finding  every  thing 
to  gratify  curiosity,  I  found  only  a  small  congregation  of 
decent  people,  very  devotional,  and  with  some  peculiarities 
in  forms  not  very  remarkable.  Dr.  Chalmers  did  not  preach 
while  I  was  there,  and  among  the  Scotch  preachers,  I  met 
nothing  extraordinary.  The  Scotch  Presbyterians  are  as 
exclusive  as  the  English  Episcopalians  ;  and,  odd  as  it  may 
seem,  they  do  not  allow  other  churches  (even  Episcopal)  the 
title  of  churches :  they  are  called  chapels,  and  are  not 
allowed  to  have  bells  to  call  the  people  together.  From 
Edinburgh  we  went  to  the  Highlands ;  thence,  by  Glasgow, 
to  Liverpool,  where  I  had  an  interesting  week  with  the 
British  Association ;  thence,  through  Wales,  to  Anglesea 
and  Ireland.  In  the  beautiful  Yalley  Llangollen,  in  the 
heart  of  Wales  (the  place  where  resided  the  two  maiden 
ladies  described  by  Puckler  Muskau,  and  where  now  is 
seen  their  monument),  I  met,  at  a  grocery,  a  temperance 
man,  and  had  a  very  interesting  conversation  with  him, 
and  stimulated  him  to  proceed  in  the  good  way.  They 
don't  know  much  about  temperance  in  this  country,  — 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  195 

i.e.,  in  England  and  France.  Ireland  we  found  peculiarly 
interesting.  Crossed  from  Waterford  to  Bristol,  and  passed 
some  days  in  Bath.  In  this  delightful  place  we  expected 
to  have  heard  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jay,  but  were  disappointed. 
On  the  following  day,  however,  Mrs.  Warren  found  him 
out  while  I  was  in  the  hospital,  had  a  fine  talk  with 
him,  and  received  his  sermons  as  a  keepsake.  We  had  a 
very  agreeable,  unexpected  meeting  with  old  friends,  the 
Misses  Ross.  On  returning  to  London,  we  spent  a  day  or 
two  at  Lord  Bexley's,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  a 
British  nobleman  and  politician,  a  friend  of  religion  and 
science,  and  of  kneeling  with  him  in  domestic  devotion,  in 
which  himself  officiated.  This  leads  me  to  think  of  Lady 
Byron,  to  whom  we  also  made  a  visit.  She  has  a  strong 
cast  of  melancholy ;  but  came  out  on  the  subject  of  physi 
cal  and  religious  education,  in  which  she  is  deeply  engaged. 
She  has  a  large  school  for  the  poor,  which  she  in  a  great 
measure  supports. 

We  have  now  been  in  Paris  a  month,  and  shall  remain 
here,  as  we  expect,  about  two  weeks  more ;  then  for  Italy. 
I  can  only  say,  at  present,  we  have  excellent  Christian 
meetings  here,  in  English  and  French,  according  to  our 
form  and  others.  Paris  is  amazingly  interesting  to  me  on 
the  score  of  hospitals,  scientific  meetings,  and  private  soci 
ety.  They  treat  me  most  hospitably,  with  more  distinction 
than  I  deserve.  As  to  other  matters,  I  can  only  say,  that 
your  good  sense  and  your  reading  will  keep  you  from 
homoeopathy,  phrenology,  and  animal  magnetism.  If  Mr. 
B.  comes  in  your  way,  neither  seek  nor  avoid  him.  May 
you  be  continued  in  health  arid  usefulness,  and  finally 
receive  the  Christian's  crown,  is  the  prayer  of 
Your  friend, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


196  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [JET.  42. 


PARIS,  April  21,  1838. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND,  —  When  I  last  wrote  to  you,  we  were 
on  the  point  of  leaving  Paris  for  Italy.  We  accordingly 
went  off,  on  the  29th  of  December,  in  a  carriage  containing 
our  party  and  courier,  who  is  an  indispensable  companion 
in  these  continental  expeditions.  We  hired  a  coach  for 
the  whole  route,  and  changed  horses  every  six  or  eight 
miles.  Our  journey  through  France  was  not  particu 
larly  interesting  till  we  descended  the  Rhone,  when  the 
old  Roman,  Gothic,  and  Saracenic  castles,  towering  over 
the  craggy  precipices  on  the  river,  some  of  them  placed 
where  it  would  be  difficult  to  climb,  —  these  ruins,  the  rapid 
river,  the  remains  of  Roman  monuments  and  villas,  make 
this  a  delightful  passage.  At  Avignon  we  saw  the  ancient 
palace  of  the  Popes,  and  many  curious  old  monuments. 
Embarking  at  Marseilles,  we  touched  at  Genoa,  Leghorn, 
Civita  Yecchia  ;  and  reached  Naples  in  safety,  after  a  dan 
gerous  passage.  Here,  in  the  middle  of  January,  every 
thing  had  the  aspect  of  May,  —  peaches  and  almonds  in  blos 
som  ;  trees  loaded  with  oranges  and  lemons;  plenty  of 
fresh  vegetables.  It  was,  indeed,  very  luxurious.  Then 
the  classical  objects  in  its  neighborhood  —  above  all,  Pom 
peii,  where  you  make  a  visit  to  old  Rome,  and  revive  the 
manners  of  two  thousand  years  since  —  make  this,  perhaps, 
the  most  interesting  place  in  Europe.  From  Naples  we 
went  to  Rome,  mighty  in  her  ruins.  I  cannot  write  any 
thing  which  will  convey  to  you  my  internal  agitations  on  en 
tering  this  place.  But  you  can  imagine  it,  as  your  imagina 
tion  has  never  lost  its  wings,  rude  as  the  storms  which  have 
assailed  it  may  have  been.  Imagine,  then,  yourself  enter 
ing  under  the  ancient  wall  and  ruinous  gateway ;  and  as 
soon  as  you  have  passed  the  towering  remains  of  aque- 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  197 

ducts  and  temples,  in  a  few  minutes,  the  gigantic  Colos 
seum  appearing,  you  can  conceive  what  would  be  your 
emotions.  Rome  was  fine  indeed,  but  altogether  different 
from  what  I  expected.  We  passed  near  a  month  there ; 
saw  his  Holiness,  and  talked  with  him ;  —  then  went  to 
Florence,  Bologna,  Venice,  Padua,  Yerona;  crossed  the 
snow-covered  Alps  to  Innspruck,  Munich,  Augsburg,  Ulm, 
Heidelburg,  Frankfort.  Cologne.  We  paid  our  respects  to 
"  Farina  "  down  the  castle-bearing  Rhine.  From  the  Rhine 
to  Aix  la  Chapelle ;  over  Waterloo  to  Brussels ;  thence  to 
Paris ;  passing  a  hundred  battle-fields,  through  fortified 
towns,  in  the  midst  of  robbers,  avalanches,  inundations; 
sometimes  annoyed  by  the  police ;  often  hungry ;  lying  in 
beds  without  blankets,  with  sheets  generally  presented  to  us 
wet,  and  usually  long  enough  to  cover  all  but  the  feet. 
What  a  delightful  thing  it  is  to  make  the  grand  tour,  pro 
vided  you  have  no  friends,  no  comforts,  and  no  business, 
at  home  !  If  you  have  these  various  contingencies,  stay  at 
home,  and  mind  your  business  ;  and,  if  you  have  so  little  wit 
as  to  quit  your  comforts,  the  greatest  pleasure  I  can  promise 
you  is,  that,  if  you  do  return  safe  from  such  a  journey,  you 
will  feel  most  happy  and  grateful  that  you  have  not  been 
robbed,  murdered,  imprisoned,  drowned  ;  that  your  legs  arid 
arms  are  not  fractured,  and  your  head  remains  on  the  top 
of  the  vertebral  column. 

When  I  was  at  Paris  before,  we  had  the  Rev.  Mr.  Baird 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Kirk,  of  New  York  ;  we  had  a  weekly  meet 
ing  on  Saturday  evening  (at  Mr.  Baird's)  for  devotional 
purposes,  and  various  services  on  Sunday.  At  present,  we 
rely  on  Colonel  Thorn's  chapel,  where  there  are  regular 
services  and  an  excellent  preacher,  —  an  Englishman,  quite 
evangelical. 

We  expect  to  leave  Paris  in  May,  and  take  passage  in 


198  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [^T.  42. 

July ;  so  that  I  shall  hope  to  see  you  before  you  leave  the 
North  for  the  winter.  .  .  . 

I  have  very  much  to  do  here  and  in  London,  and  very 
little  time  to  accomplish  my  labors.  My  work,  though  less 
regular,  is  more  trying,  more  anxious,  than  at  home.  The 
variety,  however,  and  the  diminution  of  responsibility,  will, 
I  hope,  prevent  its  wearing  away  much  of  my  vitality. 

Accept  the  prayers  and  kind  wishes  of  your  friend, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


BOSTON,  Nov.  25,  1838. 

My  life  has  been  a  busy  one  since  you  left  us.  The  intro 
duction  of  improvements,  giving  lectures,  attending  the 
Hospital,  and  devising  and  performing  difficult  operations, 
have  given  me  as  much  work  as  my  shoulders  would  bear. 
I  now  keep  a  regular  journal,  which  I  did  not  before. 
Whether  it  will  be  worth  any  thing,  is  quite  uncertain.  I 
want  eyes  and  strength  to  digest  my  foreign  journal,  and 
bring  it  out ;  but  fear  I  shall  never  have  force  to  accomplish 
it.  I  feel  much  trouble  as  to  my  religious  progress ;  for  I 
find  that  the  regular  cultivation  of  devotional  feeling  is  im 
practicable  in  the  way  I  could  wisli :  yet  I  cannot  perceive 
any  diminution  of  the  sentiment  which  leads  me  to  acknow 
ledge  my  entire  unworthiness,  my  sole  confidence  on  the 
merits  of  a  redeeming  Saviour,  nor  of  the  near  approach 
of  the  time  when  I  must  give  an  account  of  my  talents. 
I  often  imagine  myself  ill,  dying  and  dead,  and  attempt 
to  take  a  view  of  my  subsequent  condition ;  and  all  this 
with  reference  to  my  present  conduct.  May  the  Almighty 
protect  you  from  evil  apprehension,  is  the  prayer  of  your 
friend  J.  C.  WARREN. 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  199 


BOSTON,  16th  February,  1839. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND,  —  My  eyes  have  been  so  entirely  worn 
by  my  necessary  labors,  that  I  have  been  utterly  unable  to 
gratify  myself  with  writing  a  line  I  could  omit,  without 
neglect  of  imperious  professional  duties ;  otherwise  you 
would  not  have  had  an  opportunity  of  reproaching  me  with 
the  want  of  good  faith,  which  opportunity  you  have  been  so 
kind  as  not  to  use.  I  was  delighted  with  your  letter.  The 
picture  you  give  of  your  occupations  affords  me  an  admira 
ble  view  of  your  situation  ;  and  I  doubt  whether  you  could 
be  more  useful  in  any  other  sphere.  You  have  enjoyed  a 
great  influence  on  society,  and  you  have  employed  it  wor 
thily.  Perhaps  the  period  has  arrived  when  your  talents 
may  be  employed  in  a  more  extensive  sphere.  You  have 
more  ability  for  producing  a  valuable  book  than  the  greater 
number  of  those  who  write.  Why  not  begin  ? 

My  winter  has  been  a  busy  one.  I  found  my  lectures 
were  to  be  attended  by  a  respectable  body  of  our  established 
physicians.  This  increased  my  responsibility,  and  my  de 
sire  to  give  every  thing  of  new  discovery.  My  practice, 
less  in  amount,  has  been  of  a  nature  to  require  thought ; 
so  that  I  am  well  worn.  By  the  goodness  of  Providence, 
I  have  had  no  illness  since  I  left  London.  I  have  written 
nothing,  —  not  even  answers  to  foreign  correspondents. 

Our  lecture-room,  or  vestry,  or  chapel,  is  open ;  and  Mr. 
Stone  seems  to  enjoy  it  highly.  His  sermons  this  winter 
have  been  strong  and  searching.  The  great  topic  the  win 
ter  has  been  temperance  ;  and  every  thing  out  of  the  range 
of  the  Boston  groceries  appears  favorable  to  it.  The 
subject  is  still  before  a  Committee  of  the  Legislature,  and 
the  public  hearings  attract  a  great  attendance.  Mr.  F. 
Gray  has  gained  high  reputation  by  his  lectures.  The 
lecture-room  of  the  Temple  is  crowded  to  excess.  Dr.  F. 


200  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [>ET.  42. 

is  taking  an  active  part  at  the  Warren-street  Chapel.     Our 
winter  is  quite  mild  ;  no  sleighing.     I  hear  about  you  fre 
quently,  and  how  much  you  are  thought  of.     Pray,  do  you 
think  of  the  White  Mountains  for  next  summer? 
Faithfully  your  friend, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


BOSTON,  May  14,  1839. 

Your  very  pleasant  letter,  bringing,  as  it  did,  assurance 
of  your  and  your  family's  health,  was  a  lasting  pleasure  to 
me.  To  be  sure  you  were,  and  I  suppose  always  will  be, 
very  much  occupied ;  but  you  are  all  the  better  for  that,  my 
dear  friend,  because  you  are  less  likely  to  be  disturbed  with 
those  troublesome  thoughts  which  your  enlarged  imagina 
tion  is  apt  to  involve.  The  hospitalities  of  your  country 
are  inconceivable  to  us  Yankees.  I  must  come  and  see  you 
for  myself. 

By  the  blessing  of  Providence,  my  family  and  kin  are 
well,  and  in  as  good  a  state  of  feeling  as  we  deserve  to  be. 
At  this  time,  all  things  here  seem  prosperous.  The  license- 
law  stood  all  the  shocks  to  which  it  was  exposed.  The 
dram-shops  have  disappeared  ;  and,  although  there  is  mucli 
secret  drinking,  the  consumption  is  greatly  diminished. 
An  organization  is  now  formed  in  each  of  the  wards  to 
see  the  law  enforced.  A  missionary  effort  is  making  in 
our  church,  which  cannot  fail  to  produce  a  large  contribu 
tion.  A  new  chapel  is  on  foot  at  the  same  time.  In 
fact,  we  are  full  of  new  chapels,  though  not  all  of  the 
best  kind.  Will  you  have  the  kindness  to  ask  your  brother 
to  have  procured  for  me  a  small  alligator,  about  two  feet 
long ;  to  have  it  tucked  into  a  little  keg  of  spirits,  and  sent 
to  his  correspondent  here,  with  a  note  of  the  expenditure  ? 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  201 

My  wish  is  to  get  the  skeleton  only.  He  need  not  be  sent 
alive,  —  a  mistake  which  once  happened  to  me  through 
the  agency  of  a  black  friend  in  Africa,  who  caused  an 
orang-outang  to  be  caught  alive  for  me;  though  happily 
the  poor  animal  did  not  abide  long :  but  I  had  to  pay  for 

his  bones.     To  think  of  Miss  having  discharged  my 

friend at  the  last  moment,  after  the  wedding- 
cake  was  baked  !  When  will  ladies  learn  to  know  their  own 
minds  ? 

Farewell,  says  your  friend 

JOHN  C.  WARREN. 


BROOKLINE,  6th  June,  1840. 

It  was  quite  a  relief  to  me  to  get  a  letter  from  you ;  for  I 
knew  your  eyes  were  bad,  .  .  .  and  I  was  seriously  appre 
hensive  you  could  not  employ  them  in  any  literary  opera 
tions.  I  have  been  prodigiously  consoled  and  relieved  by 
the  use  of  a  reader,  through  whose  interposition  a  new 
world  of  science  has  been  opened  to  me  this  winter.  There 
has  been  a  considerable  religious  movement  this  season.  I 
wish  it  would  reach  our  church,  and  am  not  without  hopes 
it  may  ;  but  we  are  asleep  at  present.  I  was  glad  you  spoke 
of  Mr.  W.'s  death ;  for  I  had  thought  a  deal  about  it,  and 
was  quite  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  principles  on  which  he 
had  acted.  We  shall  hope  to  have  an  opportunity  of  specu 
lating  on  his  history. 

It  will  be  delightful  to  me  to  get  the  alligators,  as  well 
for  the  associated  recollections  as  for  the  interest  I  have  in 
regard  to  the  order.  I  have  made  great  advances  in  the 
study  of  comparative  anatomy  this  winter.  There  was  a 
gap  to  be  filled  by  this  pleasing  animal,  which  your  bro- 

26 


202  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [J3T.  42. 

ther's  kindness  lias  supplied.  The  further  I  have  pursued 
this  subject,  the  more  wonderful  have  I  found  the  work  of 
the  great  Creator.  The  contemplation  of  the  universe  is 
too  vast  for  a  human  mind ;  but  the  variation  of  the  same 
organs  from  the  highest  animal  to  the  lowest  vegetable,  the 
use  of  the  most  simple  elements  to  compose  and  accommo 
date  the  most  complete  structures,  strikes  me  now  and  then 
like  a  flash  of  light.  We  are  now  in  the  country,  which 
is  most  beautiful.  My  kindest  regards  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
K.,  and  believe  me 

Sincerely  yours, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


BOSTON,  21st  March,  1841. 

Your  letter,  my  dear  friend,  was  most  seasonable,  as  I 
had  heard  nothing  about  you  since  your  departure  in  Octo 
ber:  and  most  gratifying,  as  it  told  me  of  yourself  and 
friends,  —  subjects  in  which  my  interest  is  deepened.  I 
should  have  long  since  written  a  few  lines ;  but  my  eyes, 
exercised  too  much  in  dissections,  have  not  allowed  me  to 
read  or  write  any  thing  of  consequence,  and  I  have  been 
obliged  to  rely  on  others.  My  eyes,  however,  by  the  good 
will  of  Providence,  see  well  for  a  short  time. 

Dr.  Stevens,  of  whom  you  speak,  is  a  highly  distinguished 
person,  and  his  notions  of  the  blood  very  generally  adopted, 
owing  partly  to  his  excellent  work,  of  which  he  had  the 
goodness  to  send  me  a  copy.  You  do  not  tell  me  how  you 
met  with  him. 

This  winter  has  been  rendered  interesting  by  the  labors 
of  Mr.  Kirk,  which  have  been  very  successful  among  peo 
ple  not  often  touched  with  religious  warmth.  The  fruits 
he  has  produced  will,  I  hope,  grow  to  a  rich  maturity 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDE>7CE.  203 

Dr.  Stone's  congregation  is  decidedly  enlarged  by  the 
converts  made  by  Mr.  Kirk. 

Our  temperance  matters  have  taken  a  new  impulse,  and 
look  delightfully.  I  have  been  pained  by  hearing  the  death 
of  my  old  friend  Sir  A.  Cooper.  It  is  also  just  now  the 
season  of  the  year,  and  I  at  the  precise  point  of  life  at  which 
my  father  died. 


BOSTON,  April  17, 1842. 

MY  DEAR  FRIEND,  —  With  the  greatest  pleasure,  I  heard 
of  your  safe  arrival ;  though  I  should  have  been  glad  to 
hear  more  about  you. 

Our  church  is  quite  awakened.  We  have  had  morning 
service  for  near  a  month,  and  attendance  of  excellent  per 
sons  not  Episcopalians.  ...  My  own  health  is  good,  but 
eyes  very  bad. 

Remember,  I  pray  you,  my  advices.  Mrs.  S.  C.  Gray, 
your  neighbor,  is  severely  afflicted  in  the  lungs.  Her  death 
will  be  a  great  loss.  Our  season  is  quite  forward,  and  my 
visits  to  Brookline  have  begun. 

I  remain  your  faithful  friend, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


Rev.  Justin  Edwards  to  Dr.  Warren. 

No.  3,  BEACON  STREET,  BOSTON,  Dec.  6,  1842. 

(Extract.)  "  Your  opinion  as  a  medical  man  added 
much  to  the  value  of  the  temperance  documents ;  and 
those  opinions  are  now  operating  on  the  millions  who  read 
them.  I  am  desirous  of  your  written  opinion  with  regard 
to  the  Sabbath." 


204  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  [jET.  42. 


Dr.  Warren  to  Dr.  Edwards. 

BOSTON,  Dec.  21,  1842. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  By  your  communication  of  the  6th  of  De 
cember,  I  was  gratified  to  learn  that  you  had  undertaken  to 
enlighten  the  public  mind  in  regard  to  the  importance  of  a 
due  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  Your  very  successful  efforts 
in  the  cause  of  temperance  have  extended  their  influence  to 
the  most  remote  parts  of  the  earth  ;  and  it  is,  therefore, 
highly  gratifying  to  the  friends  of  religion  and  good  order 
that  you  have  taken  in  hand  this  important  subject. 

Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  have  examined  the  English 
documents  in  the  publication  you  sent  me  relating  to  this 
subject.  I  concur  entirely  in  the  opinion  expressed  by  Dr. 
Farre,  whom  I  personally  know  as  a  physician  of  the  high 
est  respectability.  The  utility  of  observing  the  Sabbath  as 
a  day  of  rest,  considered  in  a  secular  view,  rests  upon  one 
of  the  most  general  of  the  laws  of  nature,  —  the  law  of 
periodicity.  The  light  of  day  alternates  with  the  obscurity 
of  night :  the  bustle  and  activity  of  the  former  is  followed 
by  a  state  of  repose  and  sleep  during  the  latter.  The  rapid 
movement  of  the  vegetable  world  in  summer  is  succeeded 
by  a  state  of  torpor  through  the  winter.  The  life  of  the 
whole  vegetable  and  animal  creation  consists  in  a  succession 
of  movement  and  tranquillity ;  and,  without  this  succes 
sion,  their  movement  would  soon  flag,  and  their  vitality  be 
ultimately  extinguished. 

The  facts  you  have  collected,  and  will  be  able  to  collect, 
in  support  of  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  are  so  nume 
rous,  and  so  easily  obtained,  that  it  would  be  useless  for  me 
to  attempt  to  add  to  them.  I  will  only  remark,  that,  so  far 
as  my  observation  has  extended,  those  persons  who  are  in 
the  habit  of  avoiding  worldly  cares  upon  the  Sabbath,  are 


1820.]  RELIGIOUS    CORRESPONDENCE.  205 

those  most  remarkable  for  perfect  performance  of  their 
duties  during  the  week.  The  influence  of  a  change  of 
thought  on  the  Sabbath,  upon  the  minds  of  such  persons, 
resembles  that  of  a  change  of  food  upon  the  body.  It  seems 
to  give  a  fresh  spring  to  the  mental  operations,  as  the  latter 
does  to  the  physical.  I  have  a  firm  belief,  that  such  persons 
are  able  to  do  more  work,  and  do  it  better,  in  six  days,  than 
if  they  worked  the  whole  seven. 

The  breathing  the  pure  and  sublime  atmosphere  of  a 
religious  Sabbath  refreshes  and  invigorates  the  mind,  and 
forms  the  best  preparation  for  the  labors  of  the  following 
week. 

With  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  your  undertaking, 

I  remain  very  truly  yours, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


206  OPENING    OF    THE    HOSPITAL.  [^Er.  42. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

HOSPITAL.  —  MUMMY.  —  BUNKER-HILL  MONUMENT.  —  VISIT  TO 
CONCORD.  —  VISIT  TO  OLD  HOUSES.  —  PRACTICE.  —  LETTER 
TO  JUDGE  PARKER. 

IN  the  year  1820,  the  Massachusetts  General  Hospital 
was  opened.  It  differed  from  other  institutions  of  this 
nature,  in  the  comparative  elegance  of  its  structure 
and  accommodations.  There  were  not,  at  the  time, 
great  numbers  that  required  its  advantages.  The 
native  population  were  generally  well  off,  and  had 
comfortable  homes.  However  poor,  they  preferred 
to  be  taken  care  of  at  their  own  residences,  and  felt 
a  strong  prejudice  against  entering  a  hospital.  The 
foreign  population  was  then  small.  It  is  to  be  recol 
lected  that  peace  with  England  was  declared  in  1815 ; 
and  as  a  British  subject  has  no  power  to  renounce 
his  allegiance,  in  whatever  part  of  the  world  he  may 
live,  but  must  remain  a  British  subject  for  life,  the 
immigrants  from  England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland,  were 
comparatively  few.  The  Boston  Dispensary  supplied 
the  deserving  destitute  with  medicine  and  medical 
attendance  at  their  houses.  It  was  long  before  the 
superior  advantages  of  a  hospital  were  understood. 
The  accommodations,  therefore,  were  intended  to 
give  to  a  few,  in  a  superior  style,  every  thing  which 


1820.]  EGYPTIAN    MUMMY.  207 

their  comfort  or  well-doing  demanded.  The  poor 
patient  was  sure  of  receiving  all  the  care  and  atten 
tion,  and  of  having  every  thing  which  would  promote 
his  cure,  equally  with  the  rich.  The  man  of  property 
might  find  all  the  accommodations  of  his  own  house, 
in  addition  to  those  remedial  measures,  such  as  baths, 
apparatus,  and  nurses  of  superior  order,  which  he 
could  not  obtain  at  home.  There  was  nothing  left 
undone  which  care,  medical  skill,  cleanliness,  pure 
air,  perfect  ventilation,  and  strict  discipline,  could 
accomplish.  Nothing  was  wanting  that  could  contri 
bute  to  the  ultimate  success  of  an  operation  or  the 
cure  of  a  disease.  The  origin,  arrangement,  and,  in  a 
great  degree,  control,  of  this  institution,  in  its  earlier 
years,  belonged  to  Drs.  Jackson  and  Warren.  The 
trustees  acted  by  their  advice,  as  the  persons  most 
interested  in  its  welfare,  and  best  qualified  by  their 
profession  to  superintend  it. 

Dr.  Warren  was  chosen  surgeon  three  years  pre 
vious  to  the  opening  of  the  hospital ;  that  is  to  say, 
on  the  6th  of  April,  1817 :  and,  at  the  same  time,  Dr. 
James  Jackson  was  chosen  physician  of  the  insti 
tution. 

The  first  patient  was  received  on  Sept.  3,  1821. 
On  Sept.  4,  Dr.  Warren  was  appointed  by  the  trus 
tees  to  draught  an  address  to  the  public. 

In  the  year  1823  (May  4),  Mr.  Van  Lennep  sent 
here,  from  Thebes  in  Egypt,  a  first-rate  Egyptian 
mummy,  through  the  agency  of  Mr.  Bryant  P. 
Tilden. 


208  EGYPTIAN    MUMMY.  [l&r.  45. 

This  mummy  was  given  to  the  hospital;  and,  it 
being  thought  that  some  money  might  be  made  for 
the  hospital  by  the  public  exhibition  of  it,  Dr.  War 
ren  was  desired  to  write  a  description  for  the  "  Bos 
ton  Journal  of  Philosophy  and  the  Arts."  In  writing 
this  paper,  he  was  led  to  study  Egyptian  antiquities, 
and  especially  to  consult  Diodorus  and  Herodotus. 
It  was  probably  at  the  time  the  most  complete  descrip 
tion  of  a  mummy ;  for  no  good  one  had  as  yet  been 
carried  to  Europe. 

The  exhibition  was  very  successful,  and  brought  in 
between  two  and  three  thousand  dollars.  The  mum 
my  remains  in  the  hospital,  unaltered,  since  the  time 
it  was  opened. 

In  connection  with  this  account  of  the  mummy, 
and  of  the  mode  of  preservation  of  dead  bodies,  Dr. 
Warren  alludes  to  the  singular  preservation  of  a  gen 
tleman's  body  near  Boston,  which  had  lain  in  the 
ground  many  years,  and  was  still  so  entire  that  the 
features  were  at  once  recognized  by  those  who  knew 
him  when  living.  The  skin  he  found  quite  firm  and 
strong,  the  flesh  of  the  arms  solid :  the  cellular  mem 
brane  resembled  the  grain  of  the  under  surface  of 
leather.  Mr.  William  B.  Shedd,  who  has  recently 
written  notes  upon  the  history  of  Maiden,  supposes 
this  to  have  been  the  body  of  Mr.  Timothy  Sprague, 
of  that  town,  who  died  from  the  bite  of  a  snake  in 
1765,  and  whose  body  existed  in  that  condition  in 
1817,  —  more  than  fifty  years  after  death. 


1823.]  BUNKER-HILL    MONUMENT.  209 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

In  1823,  on  the  suggestion  of  W.  Tudor,  Esq.,  I  pur 
chased  three  acres  of  land  across  the  top  of  Bunker  Hill, 
where  the  action  of  June  17, 1775,  was  fought. 

I  applied  to  General  Sullivan,  Messrs.  Webster,  Ticknor, 
Prescott,  Mr.  Benjamin  Russell,  printer,  and  others.  They 
held  various  meetings  on  the  subject ;  and  in  1824,  General 
Lafayette  being  on  a  visit  to  Boston,  I  met  him  at  the 
monument  of  General  Warren  on  Bunker  Hill,  on  the  17th 
of  June,  and  invited  him  to  attend  at  the  same  place  on 
that  day  a  year,  to  lay  the  corner-stone  of  a  monument  to 
be  erected.  In  the  mean  time,  a  great  subscription  was  got 
up,  and  the  corner-stone  was  actually  laid  by  Lafayette,  and 
a  fine  oration  pronounced  by  Mr.  Webster,  in  presence  of  a 
hundred  thousand  persons. 

The  monument  went  on  under  the  architectural  superin 
tendence  of  Mr.  Solomon  Willard,  who  published  a  history, 
and  gave  a  view  of  the  form  and  size  of  each  separate  stone 
of  which  the  monument  was  built.  After  this,  I  was,  for  a 
number  of  years,  chosen  Chairman  of  the  Building  Com 
mittee  of  the  monument.  The  business  was  to  regulate  the 
expenditures,  provide  money,  and  superintend  the  construc 
tion.  A  great  deal  of  time  and  labor  were  necessarily 
expended  in  this  work. 

Finding  that  the  work  was  going  behindhand,  the  Com 
mittee,  consisting  of  Colonel  Perkins,  William  Sullivan, 
Amos  Lawrence,  and  myself,  borrowed  money  on  our  pri 
vate  responsibility,  to  the  amount  of  thirty-two  thousand 
dollars,  or  eight  thousand  dollars  apiece.  This  debt  hung 
over  us  for  a  number  of  years  ;  but  it  was  ultimately  settled 
by  taking  and  dividing  the  extra  land  of  Bunker  Hill, 

27 


210  BUNKER-HILL    MONUMENT.  [^El\  45. 

which,  after  holding  a  number  of  years,  we  sold,  and  were 
in  part  re-imbursed.  The  negotiation  by  which  we  were 
extricated  from  this  dilemma  was  accomplished  by  the 
talent  and  zeal  of  William  Appleton,  Esq.,  whose  name, 
if  I  should  mention  all  the  good  he  has  done  for  the 
public  within  my  knowledge,  and  all  the  acts  of  friend 
ship  he  has  shown  to  my  family,  would  appear  in  every 
page.  Mr.  Appleton  is  a  merchant,  the  son  of  a  cler 
gyman,  who,  with  but  little  aid  from  friends,  and  with 
ill  health  almost  uninterrupted  for  the  space  of  thirty  years, 
acquired  a  very  large  fortune.  This  he  has  employed  with 
great  liberality  in  aiding  public  works,  particularly  religious 
and  benevolent  purposes.  But  the  quality  for  which  he  is 
most  remarkable  is  his  disposition  and  ability  to  aid  friends 
who  have  fallen  into  a  state  of  embarrassment  from  any 
cause.  .  .  . 

Soon  after  the  time  mentioned  above,  a  revolution  was 
accomplished  in  the  government  of  the  Bunker-Hill  Monu 
ment  Association,  by  a  party  called  Antimasons,  who  were 
anxious  to  take  down  the  monument  to  the  foundation,  and 
remove  the  deposit,  because  the  ceremony  of  laying  the 
corner-stone  was  performed  by  the  Freemasons.  By  con 
cealing  their  designs,  this  party  succeeded  in  removing  such 
officers  as  they  thought  proper,  and  substituting  themselves. 
They  allowed  some  of  us  to  remain ;  of  whom  I  had  the 
honor  to  be  one,  being  re-elected  a  Vice-President.  The 
party  did  not  accomplish  any  thing  important,  although 
many  efforts  were  made  to  do  so.  In  the  course  of  the  year, 
we  contrived  to  arouse  the  people,  particularly  the  mecha 
nics  ;  called  the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  succeeding  year 
in  Faneuil  Hall,  where  some  hundred  members  attended, 
and  threw  out  the  Antimasons  without  any  ceremony. 

The  mechanics  were,  for  the  most  part,  substituted.     By 


1823.]  BUNKER-HILL    MONUMENT.  211 

new  contributions,  fairs,  &c.,  the  monument  was  at  length 
completed ;  and,  in  the  year  1843,  a  magnificent  oration 
was  pronounced  by  Mr.  Webster,  who  had  also  delivered 
the  opening  address  in  1825.  The  ceremony,  like  the  first, 
was  of  the  most  imposing  character.  When  the  monument 
was  completed,  it  was  expected  to  have  been  resigned  to  the 
charge  of  the  State  Government ;  but,  the  government  not 
assuming  it,  the  association  continued  to  hold  it. 

In  the  year  1849,  at  my  suggestion,  I  was  authorized  to 
deposit  three  blocks  of  granite,  —  two  indicating  the  posi 
tion  of  the  original  breastwork,  and  one  showing  the  place 
where  General  Warren  fell.  The  relics  of  the  original 
breastwork  I  had  more  than  once  preserved  from  destruc 
tion  ;  for,  notwithstanding  my  annual  remonstrance,  the 
breastwork  was  attacked,  and  the  shovel  was  in  operation 
to  destroy  its  last  remains,  when  I  arrested  the  hand  of  the 
workman,  and  thus  retained  a  portion  of  the  original  fortifi 
cation  thrown  up  on  the  17th  of  June,  1755. 


In  September,  1825,  Dr.  Warren  applied  to  the  Go 
vernor  and  Council  for  the  "  Hancock  "  and  "  Adams  " 
six-pounders,  —  two  of  the  four  pieces  of  artillery 
belonging  to  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
previous  to  the  breaking-out  of  the  Revolution. 
One  of  them  he  found  was  already  burst.  These 
he  took  care  of,  and  kept  till  the  monument  was 
finished,  and  then  sent  them  to  be  deposited  in  the 
chamber  near  its  summit,  where  they  now  are. 

He  wrote  the  following  letter  in  regard  to  them:  — 


212  BUNKER-HILL    MONUMENT.  [>£T.  45. 


To  THE  PRESIDENT  AND  DIRECTORS  OF  THE  BUNKER-HILL  MONUMENT  ASSO 
CIATION  :  — 

GENTLEMEN,  —  When  I  had  the  honor  of  being  Chairman 
of  the  Building  Committee  of  the  Bunker-Hill  Monument 
Association,  I  applied  to  the  Governor  of  this  Common 
wealth  for  the  revolutionary  field-pieces,  called  the  "  Han 
cock  "  and  the  "  Adams,"  with  the  view  of  connecting  them 
with  the  Bunker-Hill  Monument,  and  thus  securing  the 
preservation  of  these  interesting  relics  of  the  Revolution. 

The  history  of  these  field-pieces  is  probably  known  to  the 
Directors.  They  are  the  only  remains  of  the  artillery 
belonging  to  the  British-American  Colonies  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  There  were  originally  four  of 
them.  They  were  deposited  in  the  Arsenal,  or  Laboratory 
as  it  was  then  called,  at  the  corner  of  West  Street.  The 
town  being  in  possession  of  a  British  army,  it  was  daily 
expected  they  would  be  seized ;  and  how  they  might  be 
used,  was  a  subject  of  anxious  consideration  among  the 
patriotic  spirits  of  that  day.  A  plan  for  their  rescue  was 
boldly  conceived  and  successfully  executed.  I  was  so  fortu 
nate  as  to  receive  the  account  of  it  from  one  of  the  actors  in 
the  scene. 

At  the  time  of  changing  the  evening  guard,  the  British 
sentinel  was  taken  off  for  a  short  time  to  the  Common, 
where  the  guard  paraded.  The  moment  was  seized  by  our 
townsmen  to  enter  the  Laboratory,  remove  the  four  field- 
pieces  to  the  adjoining  schoolhouse  of  Master  Colburn, 
where  they  were  deposited  under  his  writing-desk  all  the 
day  following,  and  escaped  the  search  which  was  made  for 
them  by  the  British  officers.  At  evening,  they  were  placed 
in  a  manure-cart  going  into  the  country,  and  were  soon 
after  brought  into  active  service.  Two  of  the  four  pieces 
were  sent  to  Canada,  and  fell  into  the  power  of  the  British. 


1823.]  BUNKER-HILL    MONUMENT.  213 

Two  of  them  have  been  happily  preserved,  and  are  conse 
crated  by  the  names  of  our  great  patriots,  —  Hancock  and 
Adams.  Your  honorable  Board  are  now  to  decide  whether 
these  valuable  relics  shall  be  in  any  way  connected  with  the 
Bunker-Hill  Monument.  If  they  are  not  to  be  so  connected, 
they  are  to  be  returned  to  the  State,  whose  property  they 
are. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  &c. 

BOSTON,  July,  1842. 

Inscription  on  the  "  Hancock  "  and  "  Adams" 
"  ADAMS." 

"  SACRED  TO  LIBERTY  —  This  is  one  of  four  cannon  which  con 
stituted  the  whole  train  of  field-artillery  possessed  by  the  British 
Colonies  of  North  America  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  on 
the  llth  of  April,  1775.  This  cannon  and  its  fellow  belonged  to  a 
number  of  citizens  of  Boston ;  was  used  in  many  engagements 
during  the  war. 

"  The  other  two,  the  property  of  the  government  of  Massachu 
setts,  were  taken  by  the  enemy. 

"  By  order  of  the  United  States,  in   Congress  assembled,  May 
19,  1788." 
* 

Mr.  Willard  states  that  the  estimated  cost  of  the 
monument  was  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

In  order  to  take  advantage  of  the  presence  of  La 
fayette  in  this  country,  and  also  to  commence  this 
important  structure  upon  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
the  battle,  it  was  begun  when  the  available  funds 
amounted  only  to  thirty-three  thousand  five  hundred 
and  seventy-six  dollars,  —  or  only  one-third  of  the 
amount  required  for  its  completion  in  the  cheapest 
manner  proposed. 


214  BUNKER-HILL    MONUMENT.  [^ET.  45. 

-  In  the  course  of  five  years,  these  funds  were  con 
sumed  ;  and  the  work  was  discontinued  from  January, 
1829,  until  the  17th  of  June,  1834;  when  it  was 
again  recommenced,  and  proceeded  until  November, 
1835 ;  when  it  was  again  discontinued,  for  the  same 
reason  as  before. 

Various  causes,  such  as  those  already  stated,  and 
partly  political,  partly  financial,  had  produced  a  feel 
ing  of  indifference,  and  perhaps  even  some  hostility, 
towards  the  monument ;  and  no  more  funds  could  be 
obtained  in  the  ordinary  way. 

It  was  now  that  the  ladies  of  New  England  formed 
the  design  of  showing  their  public  spirit,  and  coming 
gloriously  forth  to  the  rescue.  The  Ladies'  Fair  was 
projected,  and  the  enterprise  was  carried  forward  with 
the  utmost  zeal  and  enthusiasm.  In  September,  1840, 
the  hall  over  Quincy  Market  was  obtained  for  this 
purpose,  and  arrangements  made  with  great  skill  and 
taste  for  the  exhibition  of  the  various  articles  pre 
pared  for  the  occasion  by  the  ladies  themselves,  who 
also  presided  at  the  tables. 

The  season  chosen  was  fortunate.  The  election  of 
Harrison,  for  President  of  the  United  States,  was  then 
pending ;  and  a  mass-meeting  in  Boston  filled  the  city 
to  overflowing  with  an  immense  and  enthusiastic 
multitude.  Very  large  sums  were  received  at  the 
Fair;  the  public  was  once  more  interested  in  the 
undertaking,  and  what  was  wanted  for  its  completion 
was  soon  obtained. 


1823.]  VISIT    TO    CONCORD.  215 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTES. 

The  feelings  inspired  by  the  meetings  for  the  erection  of 
the  Bunker-Hill  Monument  led  some  of  us  to  make  a  visit 
to  the  scene  of  the  battle  of  Lexington.  I  had  myself  de 
termined  to  give  some  account  of  this  action,  and  particu 
larly  of  its  connection  with  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  in  the 
fact  of  their  both  terminating  at  the  same  spot,  though 
begun  at  a  distance  from  each  other ;  and  also  of  the  life  of 
my  relative,  General  Warren.  For  this  purpose,  I  had  a 
map  engraved  of  the  country  from  Boston  to  Concord  inclu 
sively,  showing  the  locality  of  the  different  actions.  In 
accomplishing  this  plan,  I  thought  of  visiting  the  points 
concerned ;  and  Mr.  Webster,  George  Blake,  William  Sulli 
van,  and  Isaac  P.  Davis,  concurring  in  the  plan,  we,  one  day 
in  the  spring  of  1824,  set  out  together  on  this  expedition. 
We  went  along  Milk  Row,  in  Cambridge,  —  the  place  where 
the  British  landed  from  Boston  Common,  and  along  which 
they  marched  in  the  night  of  April  18,  1775.  We  then 
noticed  the  house  in  West  Cambridge,  about  half  way  be 
tween  Cambridge  Common  and  West-Cambridge  Meeting 
house,  on  the  right,  where  were  lodged  John  Hancock  and 
Samuel  Adams,  the  two  patriots  proscribed  by  the  British, 
and  whom  it  was  their  special  office  to  capture.  These 
gentlemen  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  taken,  and  have  lost 
their  lives,  but  for  a  timely  warning  sent  to  them  by  General 
Warren.  He,  having  been  watchful  of  the  movements  of 
the  British  troops  in  Boston,  had  ascertained  that  they  were 
embarking  on  the  18th  of  April,  and  had  consequently 
despatched  Colonel  Revere  to  rouse  the  country,  and  to  give 
timely  notice  to  Hancock  and  Adams.  When  Colonel  Re 
vere  reached  West  Cambridge,  —  then  called  Menotomy,  — 


216  VISIT    TO    CONCORD.  [^Ex.  45. 

they  were  in  bed.  He  awakened  them.  They  dressed  has 
tily  ;  and,  as  they  would  no  doubt  have  been  taken  if  they 
had  attempted  to  escape  by  the  road,  they  fled  across  the 
fields  to  a  house  at  some  distance,  where  they  remained 
during  the  night. 

We  next  passed  on  to  Lexington  Common,  where  the  first 
blood  was  spilt  of  that  Revolution  whose  influences  have 
extended  through  the  civilized  part  of  the  globe.  Here  we 
saw  the  small  lawn  on  which  was  drawn  up  a  company  of 
militia,  some  of  whom  were  the  first  victims  to  be  sacrificed 
on  the  altar  of  their  country's  good.  We  saw  marks  of 
the  musket-balls  which  had  been  fired  by  the  British  sol 
diers  ;  the  church  in  which  the  bodies  of  the  slain  had  been 
deposited  ;  and  we  conversed  with  some  elderly  persons  who 
had  been  there  at  the  time  of  the  action. 

Among  the  older  residents  was  the  venerable  Dr.  Fiske, 
who  favored  us  with  many  details  of  the  action,  and  pre 
sented  one  of  the  cannon-balls  fired  by  the  British  artillery, 
which  I  have  in  my  possession.  After  many  interesting  con 
versations,  and  after  examining  the  burying-ground  where 
were  the  remains  of  those  who  were  interred,  we  went  to 
Concord.  Having  deposited  our  carriage  at  the  tavern,  and 
ordered  our  dinner,  we  sent  to  invite  two  or  three  gentlemen 
of  the  place  to  meet  us ;  and  we  then  paid  a  visit  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Ripley,  who  lived  on  the  spot  where  the  first  con 
test  took  place  between  the  British  and  Americans.  At  the 
bottom  of  his  garden  was'  a  bridge  formerly,  which  led  to 
the  object  of  the  British  expedition,  —  a  storehouse  contain 
ing  provisions,  and  munition  of  war.  Dr.  Ripley  showed  us 
the  place  where,  when  the  military  approached,  our  people 
attempted  to  break  up  the  bridge,  fired  upon  the  British,  and 
tried  to  prevent  their  accomplishing  the  passage  of  the 
river. 


1823.]  VISIT    TO    CONCORD.  217 

After  a  very  interesting  examination  of  this  spot,  we 
carried  Dr.  Ripley  to  dinner,  in  order  to  enjoy  more  of  his 
conversation.  Having  obtained  from  him  and  other  gentle 
men  present  many  interesting  facts,  and  suggested  the  idea 
of  erecting  a  monument  at  Concord,  we  returned  to  Bos 
ton,  and  reached  it  at  about  the  same  hour  as  did  the  Bri 
tish  after  the  battle  of  Lexington.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
monument  at  Concord  was  laid  on  the  following  19th  of 
April,  1825. 

The  plan  for  the  map,  which  I  had  destined  should 
accompany  the  account  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  was  left 
in  the  hands  of  the  engravers,  Annin  and  Smith,  and  lost^ 
or  forgotten  ;  so  that,  when  I  applied  for  it,  Mr.  Smith,  the 
surviving  partner,  had  no  recollection  on  the  subject.  I 
have  a  note  of  his,  however,  which  shows  that  he  had 
engraved  such  a  map,  and  was  on  the  point  of  finishing  it. 

The  papers  relating  to  these  matters  I  put  into  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Bancroft,  the  American  historian  ;  for  I  found  I 
could  be  more  useful  in  my  day  and  generation  by  devoting 
my  labor  to  the  healing  of  the  sick,  the  promotion  of  good 
institutions,  and  the  advancement  of  science,  than  I  could 
be  by  any  literary  production  of  an  historical  character. 
Besides,  I  found,  that  while  the  papers  and  letters  of 
General  Warren,  left  by  him  on  the  eve  preceding  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  were  dissipated  or  destroyed,  so  that 
not  a  single  letter  remained,  on  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Ban 
croft,  I  knew,  had  at  least  six  interesting  letters.  Mr. 
Bancroft  has  the  means  and  the  power  of  placing  the  cha 
racter  of  General  Warren  on  much  higher  ground  than  it 
has  hitherto  been  placed,  as  a  person  of  ability,  of  high 
patriotic  spirit,  and  of  indomitable  resolution. 

In  the  contests  of  family  feeling  and  party  prejudice 
which  took  place  about  the  period  of  laying  the  corner-stone 

28 


218  VISIT   TO    OLD    HOUSES.  [^ET.  45. 

of  the  Bunker-Hill  Monument,  many  attempts  were  made 
to  lessen  the  fair  fame  of  some  of  the  earliest  and  best 
patriots  of  the  Revolution.  At  about  that  period,  I  was 
dining  at  the  Honorable  Judge  Prescott's,  son  of  Colonel 
Prescott,  when  a  conversation  took  place  on  the  Bunker- 
Hill  battle ;  and,  some  remarks  having  been  made  as  to  the 
spot  where  General  Warren  was  killed,  a  gentleman  sitting 
next  to  me,  of  about  my  age,  born  and  bred  in  Boston,  said 
to  me,  "  I  thought  it  had  been  established  that  General 
Warren  was  not  present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill." 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1824,  the  movements  of  the  Bun 
ker-Hill  Monument  Association  having  stimulated  others, 
an  oration  was  delivered  at  Concord  by  Edward  Everett, 
which  I  attended ;  and,  at  about  that  period,  Mr.  Webster, 
George  Blake,  Isaac  P.  Davis,  Honorable  Judge  Story,  and 
others,  made  a  party  of  exploration  of  Lexington  Fight. 
We  then  visited  Lexington,  and  other  places  concerned  in 
this  action,  and  gathered  considerable  information.  Nearly 
the  same  party,  at  about  the  same  time,  made  an  explora 
tion  in  the  antiquities  of  the  northern  part  of  this  town. 
We  dined  at  Mr.  Webster's,  in  Summer  Street ;  and  I  then 
conducted  the  gentlemen  to  the  stone  house  in  Cross  Street, 
where  Sir  Edmond  Andros  was  imprisoned  by  the  people 
in  1689, 1  think ;  thence  to  a  house  in  North  Square,  built 
by  Sir  Harry  Frankland  about  one  hundred  years  since.  It 
was  ornamented  by  painted  panels,  surmounted  with  armo 
rial  bearings ;  was  very  large  and  handsome.  Then  to 
Governor  Hutchinson's,  which  was  the  next  house  ;  after 
wards  to  the  house  in  Salem  Street  and  Charter  Street 
built  by  Sir  William  Phipps  in  1680,  I  think;  then  to 
the  Green-Dragon  Tavern,  in  Union,  near  Hanover  Street ; 
arid,  finally,  to  the  house  in  Tremont  Street  occupied  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cotton.  Soon  after  our  visit,  these  houses 


1823.]  VISIT   TO    OLD    HOUSES.  219 

began  to  disappear ;  and  at  this  time  (1849)  there  is  none 
remaining,  except  the  first  in  Cross  Street.  The  house  in 
Cross  Street  was  formerly  a  stone  house,  but  is  now  covered 
by  wood,  so  as  not  to  be  easily  recognizable.  When  we 
made  our  visit,  we  could  not  discover  it  at  first:  but  I 
invited  the  gentlemen  to  visit  Dr.  Ephraim  Eliot,  apo 
thecary,  who  lived  near,  and  was  then  an  invalid  in  his 
chamber ;  and,  by  his  direction,  we  found  the  stone  house, 
enclosed  on  two  sides  with  a  wooden  boxing.  We  were 
highly  gratified  by  our  visit,  and  the  more  so  by  its  recol 
lection,  when,  a  few  years  after,  we  found  nearly  all  these 
interesting  objects  were  removed. 

The  Green-Dragon  Tavern  was  formerly  situated  in  a 
court,  continuous  with  Union  Street.  This  was  the  place 
of  meeting  of  the  Whig  caucuses  before  the  Revolution. 
General  Warren,  particularly,  was  in  the  habit  of  attending 
these  meetings.  There  they  met  Paul  Revere,  and  the  bold 
mechanic  Whigs  of  the  North  End,  to  arrange  such  execu 
tive  movements  as  might  be  required  from  time  to  time. 
On  our  visit,  we  found  the  house  inhabited  by  poor  people, 
the  rooms  cut  up  into  small  apartments,  and  in  some 
of  the  poorest  rooms  were  seen  the  remains  of  gilded  cor 
nices,  which  had  probably  been  set  up  by  the  Masonic 
fraternity  for  their  celebrations. 


Dr.  Warren  has  stated  in  his  Notes  that  he  conti 
nued  the  practice  of  midwifery  for  some  years  after  it 
was  given  up  by  Dr.  Jackson. 

As  it  has  always  been  the  wish  in  this  neighbor 
hood  to  employ  the  family  physician,  who  is  looked 
upon  as  an  old  friend  in  cases  of  the  nature  alluded 


220  EXTENT    OF    PRACTICE.  [l&r.  47. 

to,  and  great  aversion  is  generally  felt  to  employing  a 
stranger,  this  branch  of  business  could  not  be  aban 
doned  without  retiring  somewhat  from  general  practice. 

Many  years  ago,  we  find  a  plan  in  discussion  by 
Drs.  Jackson,  Warren,  and  others,  for  the  instruction 
of  females  in  midwifery.  This  was  abandoned  for 
weighty  reasons.  Mrs.  Alexander  was  subsequently 
introduced  by  them;  but  the  plan  of  employing 
females  did  not,  nor  has  it  yet,  come  into  favor. 

Dr.  Warren  had  occasionally  used  the  forceps :  he 
did  so  for  the  last  time,  May  10,  1818.  Dr.  Jackson, 
by  taking  a  summer  residence  in  Waltham  in  1825, 
of  course  abandoned  night-practice  ;  thus  mainly 
avoiding  this  branch,  and  retiring  in  some  degree 
from  active  practice. 

This  partial  retirement  of  Dr.  Jackson  added  consi 
derably  to  the  already  very  extensive  general  practice 
of  Dr.  Warren  among  the  most  wealthy  and  fashion 
able,  as  well  as  other,  classes  of  society. 

In  looking  over  the  list  of  members  of  the  Boston 
Medical  Association,  we  find  that  all  the  older  mem 
bers  of  the  profession,  with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
had  died  off.  Of  those  that  remained,  all  were  either 
enfeebled  by  age,  or  pursuing  a  quiet,  lucrative  prac 
tice.  Some  younger  men  were,  indeed,  toiling  their 
way  up  to  the  eminence  which  they  have  since 
reached;  one  or  two  others  were  eminent  in  their 
own  branches :  but,  for  a  time,  Dr.  Jackson  and  Dr. 
Warren  stood  alone  in  eminence,  as  family  physi 
cians  or  general  practitioners. 


1825.]  EXTENT    OF    PRACTICE.  221 

Dr.  Warren,  having  done  ample  duty  in  early  life 
in  practising  among  the  poorer  classes,  had  felt  him 
self  at  liberty,  as  his  practice  increased,  and  he  be 
came  unable  to  attend  to  all  who  applied,  to  leave 
promiscuous  practice  to  younger  men,  who  were  both 
competent  for  the  work,  and  desirous  to  obtain  it. 
He  retained,  however,  such  old  patients  as  wished  his 
attendance,  especially  those  formerly  his  father's ; 
practised  gratuitously  where  it  was  necessary;  and 
often  supplied  their  wants,  in  addition  to  giving  them 
his  time.  After  his  return  from  Europe  in  1838, 
when  he  began  to  retire  from  excessive  practice,  he 
made  it  more  of  a  duty  to  practise  among  the  poor. 

Within  a  few  years  after  Dr.  Jackson's  partial 
retirement,  Dr.  Warren  declined  obstetric  practice, 
and  refused  to  visit  in  the  night,  except  in  particular 
cases.  This,  however,  made  little  difference  in  the 
extent  of  his  general  practice ;  which  was  not  dimi 
nished  until  his  departure  for  Europe  in  1837,  and 
his  taking  a  country  residence  for  the  summer,  after 
his  return. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  publications  by  Dr. 
Warren,  upon  surgical  subjects,  was  his  letter  to 
Judge  Parker,  printed  in  1826. 

It  contains  a  very  clear  and  minute  description  of 
the  different  forms  of  dislocation  of  the  hip-joint, 
intended  to  explain,  in  terms  intelligible  to  non-medi 
cal  men,  the  injuries  of  this  joint,  which  are  often 
the  most  complicated  and  difficult  to  recognize  of  any 
that  occur  in  the  human  body.  With  a  great  deal  of 


222  LETTER    TO    JUDGE    PARKER.  [;ET.  17. 

research  and  close  reasoning,  he  proves  the  possibility 
of  a  species  of  dislocation  whose  existence  had  been 
denied  by  Sir  Astley  Cooper,  though  recognized  by 
some  of  the  most  distinguished  Continental  surgeons. 
The  occasional  occurrence  of  this  form  of  dislocation 
has  since  been  proved  by  a  specimen  in  St.  Bartholo 
mew's  Hospital,  and  by  cases  published  in  the  Ame 
rican  edition  of  Sir  Astley  Cooper's  work  on  disloca 
tions. 

About  this  time,  an  earnest  attempt  was  made  to 
introduce  gymnastic  exercises  in  this  country.  An 
institution  was  established  in  Boston ;  and,  very  soon 
after,  followed  by  one  in  Cambridge,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Dr.  Webster  and  of  Dr.  Follen,  who  was 
afterwards  lost  in  the  steamboat  "  Lexington."  The 
latter  was  well  qualified,  by  his  German  education 
and  habits,  to  give  the  necessary  instruction.  While 
the  novelty  lasted,  the  institution  flourished  in  Cam 
bridge;  but  it  wanted  the  infusion  of  the  patient 
German  character  to  make  it  permanently  successful. 
Exercises  for  the  sake  of  exercise  cannot  readily 
flourish  here.  Our  countrymen  demand  more  excite 
ment,  —  either  hearty  play  or  useful  labor,  a  game  of 
football,  or  wood  to  saw  and  split. 

Dr.  Warren's  opinion  of  the  high  importance  of 
this  institution,  and  the  part  he  took  in  it,  will  be 
seen  in  the  next  chapter. 


1825.]  GYMNASIUM.  232 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


GYMNASIUM.  — TEMPERANCE. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     NOTES. 

ABOUT  the  year  1825,  the  idea  of  establishing  a  public 
gymnasium  was  agitated  in  Boston.  In  my  lectures  annu 
ally  delivered  at  Cambridge,  I  had  explained  the  great 
importance  of  physical  exercise  in  developing  the  organic 
structure  of  the  body,  as  well  as  its  necessity  for  maintain 
ing  it  in  that  degree  of  vigor  which  by  nature  it  was 
destined  to  possess.  The  obvious  failure  of  health  in  a 
great  number  of  individuals  in  the  University,  gave  weight 
to  these  considerations,  and  led  the  Government  of  the 
University  to  make  some  arrangements  for  gymnastic  exer 
cises  in  the  grounds  assigned  for  the  sports  of  students. 
The  young  gentlemen  entered  into  the  plan  with  great 
ardor ;  and  the  apparatus  was  kept  in  repair  and  activity 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  is  now,  I  believe,  entirely  re 
moved. 

In  Boston,  some  gentlemen  of  the  first  character,  im 
pressed  with  the  great  importance  of  exercise,  united 
readily  and  earnestly  in  the  plan  for  establishing  a  public 
gymnasium.  Among  them  were  William  Sullivan,  George 
Ticknor,  Judge  Prescott,  Josiali  Quincy,  Daniel  Webster, 
Peter  0.  Thacher,  John  A.  Lowell,  and  others.  A  letter 
from  one  of  these  gentlemen  displays  very  forcibly  the 
necessity  of  combining  physical  and  mental  exercise  :  — 


224  GYMNASIUM.  [ 

Letter  from  Mr.  Webster. 

Nov.  17,  1825. 

MY  DEAR  SIR, —  I  am  highly  pleased  with  the  idea  of  a 
gymnasium.  It  is  a  subject  which  has  often  occupied  my 
thoughts,  and  in  relation  to  which  it  has  appeared  to  me 
that  the  fashion  of  the  times  needs  to  be  changed.  Those 
who  have  the  charge  of  education  seem  sometimes  to  forget, 
that  the  body  is  a  part  of  the  man.  The  number  of  young 
men  who  leave  our  colleges,  emulous  indeed  and  learned, 
but  with  pale  faces  and  narrow  chests,  is  truly  alarming. 
The  common  rustic  amusements  hung  about  our  literary 
institutions  for  a  long  time  :  but  they,  at  length,  seem  to 
have  been  entirely  abandoned  ;  and  nothing,  at  least  no 
thing  useful,  has  succeeded  them.  If  it  be  desirable  that 
there  should  be  cultivated  intellect,  it  is  equally  so,  as  far 
as  this  world  is  concerned,  that  there  should  be  also  a 
sound  body  to  hold  it  in. 

I  shall  most  gladly  assist  in  your  endeavors,  thinking 
that  I  do  some  service  when  I  aid  any  measure  calculated 
to  enforce  on  the  rising  generation  a  sense  of  the  invaluable 
advantages  of  temperance  and  exercise. 
I  am,  dear  sir,  most  truly  yours, 

DANL.  WEBSTER. 

For  Dr.  WARREN. 

A  society  for  establishing  a  gymnasium  was,  accordingly, 
formed ;  and,  having  been  appointed  president,  I  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  distinguished  philosopher  and  gymnasiarch, 
Professor  Jahn,  through  my  friend  William  Amory,  Esq., 
who  was  at  that  time  residing  in  Germany.  Mr.  Jahn  was 
so  situated  that  we  could  not,  without  obtaining  more 
means  than  were  at  our  disposition,  lead  him  to  abandon 
his  own  country,  and  establish  himself  for  life  in  ours.  The 


1826.]  GYMNASIUM.  225 

idea  of  obtaining  his  aid  was  therefore  relinquished  ;  and  I 
afterwards  addressed  Dr.  Lieber,  the  author  of  the  "  Ameri 
can  Encyclopaedia,"  a  gentleman  of  education,  and  in  other 
respects  well  fitted  to  take  the  superintendence  of  a  public 
gymnasium.  The  contributions  towards  this  establishment 
were  very  liberal.  It  was  therefore  opened  on  a  large  scale 
in  the  Washington  Gardens,  corner  of  West  and  Tremont 
Street.  A  great  number  of  gentlemen  of  the  different 
professions  attended,  and  entered  into  the  exercises  with 
great  spirit.  They  soon  experienced  its  benefits  in  the 
increase  of  muscular  strength,  the  improvement  of  appetite, 
and  the  acquisition  of  a  florid  and  healthy  aspect.  The 
establishment  of  the  gymnasium,  as  is  apt  to  be  the  case 
in  this  country  in  regard  to  novelties,  acted  contagiously  on 
the  city  and  country.  Small  gymnasiums  were  established, 
in  connection  with  most  of  the  schools,  academies,  and 
colleges,  male  and  female  ;  and  although,  now  and  then, 
the  accidental  fall  of  a  young  lady  excited  alarm  among  the 
matrons  of  the  country,  there  was  a  universal  expression 
of  a  sentiment  of  satisfaction,  that  our  literary  men,  who 
had  been  perishing  in  groups  for  want  of  air  and  exercise, 
could,  as  in  Germany  and  in  England,  be  able  to  maintain 
their  health,  without  interfering  with  their  mental  occupa 
tions.  But,  unhappily,  while  the  intellectual  cultivation  of 
a  whole  community  is  considered  the  glory  of  the  country, 
the  spirit  of  physical  cultivation  has  gradually  become  fee 
ble,  and,  as  a  general  and  useful  influence  extended  over 
the  country,  it  is  of  no  estimation.  There  are,  indeed, 
some  remains  of  gymnastic  arrangements,  and  the  educated 
part  of  the  community  have  become  perfectly  well  informed 
of  the  importance  of  developing  the  physical  as  well  as 
the  moral  and  intellectual  qualities  of  their  sons  and 

daughters. 

29 


226  TEMPERANCE.  [-<ET.  49. 

Twenty-five  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  establish 
ment  of  a  gymnasium  in  Boston  ;  and  we  may  venture  to 
express  the  hope,  that  the  importance  of  gymnastic  exer 
cises,  as  a  regular  part  of  school  and  college  education,  will 
manifest  itself  to  those  who  direct  public  instruction,  and 
lead  them  to  see  that  the  intellectual  part  of  the  commu 
nity  is  in  a  state  of  deterioration  in  qualities  indispensable 
to  the  activity,  usefulness,  and  enjoyment  of  life. 

Let  me  add  here,  that,  of  the  gentlemen  who  originally 
joined  in  our  gymnastic  exercises,  four  or  five  continued  to 
follow  them  for  a  considerable  number  of  years  ;  and  per 
haps  those  who  survive  may  still  continue  to  do  so. 

In  1827,  I  joined  the  Temperance  Society.  My  father, 
Dr.  John  Warren,  was  Yice-President  in  1813. 

In  the  same  year,  I  brought  forward  temperance  resolu 
tions  in  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society ;  which,  after  a 
violent  opposition,  particularly  from  Dr.  T ,  were  car 
ried  in  a  large  meeting,  with  very  few  dissensions.  The 
Rev.  Drs.  Channing,  Gannett,  <fec.,  were  the  most  active 
men  at  that  time  in  the  temperance  cause. 

From  that  period,  I  have  followed  up  the  temperance 
reformation.  Mr.  Alden  Bradford,  Mr.  Pierpont,  Mr.  Wil 
liam  Sullivan,  then  gave  in  their  aid.  Soon  after,  the 
Orthodox  or  Calvinist  clergy  took  up  the  matter ;  and,  by 
a  slow  and  regular  movement,  the  country  was  more  or  less 
brought  under  the  influence  of  temperance  principles. 

In  1837, 1  went  to  England,  and  conferred  with  the  mem 
bers  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Temperance  Society  (who 
were  very  cordial),  and  acted  as  Chairman  of  a  temperan.ce 
meeting  in  the  heart  of  the  city  of  London. 

In  the  same  year,  I  had  a  conference  with  some  members 
of  the  administration  of  King  Louis  Philippe  in  France, 


1827.]  TEMPERANCE.  227 

and  laid  before  them  statements  showing  the  importance 
and  the  progressive  advance  of  the  temperance  reform. 

About  the  year  1840,  in  consequence  of  the  formation  of 
the  Washingtonian  Societies,  the  Massachusetts  Temperance 
Society  —  the  oldest  association  —  suspended  its  proceed 
ings  ;  resuming  their  labors  occasionally  at  such  opportuni 
ties  as  occurred  for  making  themselves  useful. 

In  1848,  we  made  a  publication  of  the  documents  of  the 
Massachusetts  Temperance  Society,  recording  the  princi 
pal  facts  in  its  history.  At  this  time  (February,  1849),  no 
licenses  to  retail  are  allowed  by  law  in  Boston  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  The  same  is 
true  also  of  several  other  States. 

In  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1849, 1  received  letters 
from  various  parts  of  the  country,  requesting  my  opinion 
of  the  necessity  of  alcohol  in  materia  medica.  After  some 
months'  reflection,  I  wrote  a  short  article  for  general  dis 
tribution,  showing  that,  in  many  cases,  alcohol  was  not 
necessary  ;  that  it  might  be  dispensed  with  in  the  pre 
servation  of  infusions ;  that,  in  many  cases  of  tinctures, 
a  substitute  might  be  found  in  a  wine  produced  by  the 
fermentation  of  a  vegetable  infusion  with  sugar.  This 
preparation  I  had  made,  and  tested  its  effect,  first,  by 
taking  it  myself;  second,  by  giving  it  to  others.  The 
preparation  turned  out  to  be  mild,  agreeable,  and  efficient 
in  its  operation.  This  article  was  published  and  distri 
buted  by  the  Massachusetts  State  Temperance  Society. 
In  the  course  of  the  past  summer  (1849),  the  famous 
Apostle  of  Temperance,  Father  Mathew,  visited  Boston, 
partly  on  the  invitation  of  the  Massachusetts  Temperance 
Society,  on  my  application.  I  met  him  at  the  Roxbury 
boundary,  and  saluted  him  in  a  short  speech  ;  to  which  he 
replied.  On  the  next  day,  he  drank  tea  at  my  house  with 


228  TEMPERANCE.  [^E'r.  49. 

Bishop  Fitzpatrick,  Mr.  William  Appleton,  and  others. 
Father  Mathew  employed  some  months  in  travelling  about 
this  State  to  give  the  pledge  to  many  thousand  individuals, 
and  afterwards  visited  the  Southern  cities. 

The  present  year,  the  temperance  societies  have  been 
less  active  than  usual ;  and,  among  a  certain  class,  intem 
perance  has  increased.  Still,  however,  the  reform  may  be 
said  to  have  made  progress  ;  as,  in  all  public  places  and 
public  entertainments,  the  disposition  to  employ  alcoholic 
drinks  is  diminished.  For  the  last  seven  or  eight  years,  I 
have  ceased  to  give  wine  at  the  dinners  of  the  Agricultural 
Society,  and  at  other  dinners ;  also  at  evening  parties  of 
scientific  persons  and  others.  In  the  early  part  of  my  esta 
blishment,  it  was  thought  necessary  for  every  young  house 
keeper  to  lay  in  a  stock  of  wine,  which  might  grow  old,  and 
ripen ;  and,  at  that  time,  I  used  two  or  three  glasses  of 
strong  wine  daily,  and,  at  some  periods,  brandy  and  water, 
though  not  strong.  When  I  began  to  take  an  interest  in 
the  temperance  cause,  in  the  year  1827,  I  gradually  gave 
up  the  strong  wines,  and  take  the  weak  French  wines.  On 
going  to  Europe  in  the  year  1837, 1  was  led,  while  in  Eng 
land,  to  resume  them,  though  not  with  good  effect.  Two  or 
three  years  after  returning  from  Europe,  I  gave  up  the  use 
of  it  entirely,  except  as  an  article  of  the  materia  medica ; 
and  always  found  myself  better  without  it,  except  in  case  of 
unusual  debility,  when,  used  as  a  medicine,  it  has  some 
times  appeared  beneficial. 

On  the  whole,  I  can  with  confidence  say,  that,  if  I  had 
never  tasted  wine,  my  life  would  have  been  more  healthy, 
and  longer,  and  more  comfortable.  The  efforts  which  I 
have  been  called  to  make  in  the  temperance  reformation, 
operating,  as  they  have  done,  more  extensively  on  the  pros 
perity  and  happiness  of  the  community,  are  a  source  of  more 


1827.]  TEMPERANCE.  229 

satisfaction  than  any  other  labors.  Probably  my  other 
occupations  might  have  been  as  well  or  better  performed 
by  some  one  else ;  but  perhaps  it  would  have  been  difficult 
to  find  another  person  who  would  have  been  willing  to 
undergo  the  opposition,  ridicule,  labor,  and  expense  in  the 
cause  of  temperance. 


The  early  efforts  of  the  society  do  not  appear  to 
have  been  attended  with  much  success.  It  is  to  be 
recollected  that  the  use  of  alcohol  was  in  those  days 
considered  a  necessary  of  life. 

It  was  not  supposed  possible  for  mechanics,  farm 
ers,  or  operatives  of  any  kind,  to  work  without  their 
regular  supply  of  spirit.  The  same  feeling  prevailed 
here  with  regard  to  rum  that  exists  now  in  England 
with  regard  to  beer,  or  in  France  and  Italy  in  regard 
to  wine. 

About  three  years  since,  there  was  an  account 
published  in  the  English  papers,  of  a  trial,  under  a 
new  law,  on  a  complaint  against  an  individual  for 
opening  a  beer-house  on  Sunday  night  to  supply  the 
operatives  of  a  printing  establishment.  The  counsel 
for  the  defence  stated,  of  course,  the  necessity  for  the 
supply,  and  argued  eloquently  upon  the  suffering 
which  must  have  ensued  from  the  men  being  de 
prived  of  their  usual  drink  while  working  in  the 
night.  The  singularity  was  that  the  opposing  counsel 
admitted  the  necessity;  and  the  judge  not  only  al 
lowed  it,  but  lamented  the  great  hardship  of  the 
particular  case.  But  the  law,  he  said,  was  absolute, 


230  TEMPERANCE. 


and  did  not  allow  any  justification  to  be  set  up.  The 
employers  ought  to  have  provided  a  sufficient  supply 
for  their  workmen. 

In  Italy,  in  like  manner,  wine  is  regarded  among 
the  poor  as  much  of  a  necessity  as  is  meat  with  our 
lower  classes.  Forty  years  ago,  nay,  thirty  years  ago, 
the  same  feelings  and  opinions  were  held  here  with 
regard  to  spirit.  The  customs  which  prevailed 
among  the  middle  and  higher  classes  are  frequently 
alluded  to  and  described  in  the  progress  of  this 
Memoir.  Not  only  wine,  but  alcohol  in  some  form, 
was  daily  used  ;  and  the  smoking  punch-bowl  in 
winter,  or  the  iced  pitcher  in  summer,  was  no  un 
common  addition  to  the  sideboard,  which  was  gene 
rally  well  supplied  with  every  variety  of  spirit  that 
the  taste  of  each  visitor  could  demand. 

Some  progress  had  probably  been  made  by  quiet 
and  imperceptible  degrees  between  1813  and  1827. 
The  silver  stood  empty  upon  the  sideboard,  the  square 
case-bottles  had  disappeared,  and  spirits  were  much 
less  freely  used  in  the  higher  circles.  Among  the 
lower  classes  there  was  no  change.  There  were 
shops  for  retailing  liquor  in  every  street,  and  these 
were  the  constant  resort  of  operatives;  while  there 
were  many  shops  of  a  somewhat  higher  character, 
where  young  men,  engaged  in  trade,  or  mercantile 
employments,  could  get  their  glass  at  luncheon-time, 
—  say  a  glass  of  brandy  and  water,  —  and  a  biscuit. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  multitude  of  taverns,  both 
in  Boston  and  dispersed  over  the  country,  owed  their 


1827.]  TEMPERANCE.  231 

existence    and   main   profits    to    the  sale   of  ardent 
spirits. 

Dr.  Warren  commenced  his  labors  with  great  ear 
nestness,  and  with  an  interest  which  never  abated 
through  life.  He  prepared  a  series  of  resolutions, 
which  were  heartily  adopted,  and  produced  great 
effect  upon  the  community.  These  resolutions  de 
clared  that  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  is  unhealthy,  and 
inconsistent  with  a  vigorous  action  of  the  bodily  and 
mental  powers  ;  also  that  the  habitual  use  of  wine 
is  neither  necessary  nor  salutary.  A  paper  to  this 
effect  was  soon  after  signed  by  most  of  the  physicians 
in  Boston,  published,  and  generally  circulated.  Its 
influence  was  very  great.  He  next  headed  a  petition 
to  the  City  Government  for  the  prohibition  of  the  sale 
of  liquors  upon  the  Common  on  public  days,  which 
were  then  days  of  riot,  gambling,  and  drunkenness. 
Election  Day,  in  particular,  when  the  Legislature  met, 
the  votes  for  Governor  were  declared,  and  he  took  his 
oaths  of  office,  the  Mall  was  lined  with  tables,  upon 
which  stood  tempting  glasses  of  egg-pop;  and  the 
Common  was  sprinkled  over  with  tents,  where  stimu 
lating  refreshments  were  abundantly  provided.  The 
day  generally  closed  with  the  mobbing  and  burning- 
up  of  gambling-tables.  Often  the  amusements  of 
the  afternoon  —  at  least,  at  the  period  while  Boston 
was  a  town  —  were  diversified  by  the  arrest  of  a  pick 
pocket,  who  was  followed  to  the  justice's  office  by  a 
crowd  of  hundreds  of  men  and  boys,  all  anxious  in 
the  cause  of  justice.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 


232  TEMPERANCE.  [^ET.  49. 


"  Election  Day  "  was  supereminently  a  day  of  disorder 
and  disgrace.  In  earlier  times,  it  had  been  one  of 
solemnity.  The  sermon  at  the  church  was  then  suf 
ficient  attraction  and  stimulus  to  the  Puritans,  in 
addition  to  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  and  the 
investiture  of  the  Chief  Magistrate. 

The  next  step  was  to  place  greater  restrictions 
upon  the  retailing  of  liquors,  especially  upon  the 
sale  of  liquors  to  be  drank  upon  the  premises.  By 
proceeding  in  a  similar  manner  as  above,  the  number 
of  drinking-houses  was  diminished,  and  a  greater  re 
straint  placed  upon  the  retailing  of  spirits.  In  the 
formation  of  branch-societies,  and  in  appointing  tem 
perance  agents,  Dr.  Warren  was  also  an  earnest  mover 
and  actor;  yet  he  never  advised  extreme  measures. 
His  efforts  were  directed,  at  first,  against  the  most 
prominent  abuses,  and  against  the  habitual  use  of 
distilled  liquors.  The  compounding  of  medicines 
had  always  received  a  large  share  of  his  attention. 
He  now  devoted  himself  to  the  substitution  of  other 
forms  of  medicine  for  the  tinctures  :  these  had 
always  been  freely  used  by  both  sexes.  Many 
ladies  thought  they  required  their  daily  dose  of 
Huxham's  tincture  of  bark;  and  men,  who  were 
ashamed  to  resort  to  brandy  or  rum,  habitually  took 
Stoughton's  elixir.  The  constant  use  of  either  of 
these  preparations  occasioned  an  imaginary  necessity 
for  their  continuance;  and  often,  by  an  easy  transition, 
led  to  the  free  use  of  ardent  spirits.  His  exertions 
so  far  succeeded,  that  the  eminent  and  conscientious 


1827.]  TEMPERANCE.  233 

apothecary,*  who  for  many  years  dispensed  his  pre 
scriptions,  and  himself  entered  earnestly  into  the 
temperance  cause,  has  declared,  that,  whereas  the 
large  bottles  of  tinctures  ranged  upon  an  upper  shelf 
used  to  be  taken  down  and  filled  daily,  they  now  were 
filled  only  once  a  month. 

The  effect  of  these  exertions  was  gradual.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  temperance  reform,  the  society's 
exertions  were  directed  against  the  use  of  distilled 
liquors.  Farmers,  mechanics,  and  operatives  met  all 
remonstrances  with  the  reply,  "You  preach  to  us, 
while  your  own  cellars  are  filled  with  wine:  if  we 
could  afford  to  buy  wine,  we  would  not  drink  rum." 
It  was  necessary,  therefore,  for  the  members  to  give 
up  wine  ;  and  they  did  so. 

The  effect  is  great  and  decided.  The  habitual  use 
of  spirit  is  abandoned.  It  is  found  and  acknowledged, 
that  men  can  work  better  without  stimulants  than 
with  them.  Odium  is  attached  to  the  supplying  ope 
ratives  with  spirit,  and  to  them  for  using  it.  If 
young  men  resort  to  drinking-places  for  a  forenoon 
dram,  it  is  done  secretly,  and  others  are  not  led  into 
temptation.  Whatever  may  be  the  amount  of  spirit 
now  used,  there  is  a  great  and  obvious  gain  in  the 
removal  of  temptation  to  neophytes,  in  its  constant  and 
open  use  as  matter  not  only  of  pleasure,  but  necessity. 

A  notice  of  the  publication  referred  to,  by  Dr. 
Warren,  on  the  "  Effects  of  Alcohol,"  will  come  in 


Mr.  Charles  White. 
30 


234  TEMPERANCE.  [JET.  49. 

here  most  appropriately.  It  is  a  small,  neat  volume, 
suitable  for  wide  distribution ;  containing,  in  the  first 
place,  the  records  and  documents  of  the  Massachu 
setts  Temperance  Society,  from  its  foundation  in  1813 
to  the  date  of  publication  (January,  1848).  It  con 
tains  an  account  of  the  progress  of  the  society,  that 
may  be  read  with  great  interest. 

Added  to  this  is  a  republication  of  Dr.  Forbes's 
valuable  "  Essay  on  the  Physiological  Effects  of  Alco 
holic  Drinks,"  —  "a  most  able  and  scientific  investi 
gation  of  the  effect  of  stimulating  liquors  on  the 
animal  economy." 

In  1851,  he  bestowed  great  pains  in  preparing  for 
publication  an  edition  of  the  excellent  Prize  Essay  of 
Dr.  Carpenter,  on  the  use  and  abuse  of  alcoholic 
liquors ;  adapted  to  general  use  by  being  accompanied 
with  an  explanation  of  the  medical  and  technical 
terms. 

Dr.  Warren's  labors  in  the  temperance  cause  con 
tinued  unremitted  from  their  commencement  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  always  ready  to  give  his 
assistance  in  speaking,  writing,  and  by  liberal  con 
tribution.  At  one  period,  from  his  connection  with 
St.  Paul's  Church,  and  having  the  warm  sympathy  of 
the  rector,  he  was  enabled  to  interest  a  class  of  the 
community  not  generally  brought  under  the  influence 
of  temperance  teachings.  Meetings  were  held  at  the 
church,  under  the  sanction  of  the  rector,  Mr.  Potter, 
and  afterwards  of  Dr.  Stone,  and  anniversary  dis 
courses  given  there. 


1827.]  TEMPERANCE.  235 

He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  Maine  Law,  and 
one  of  the  earliest  contributors  to  the  Million  Fund. 
During  the  last  days  of  his  life,  he  was  occupied  in 
preparing  a  sketch  of  the  temperance  movements 
during  the  last  half-century.  This  has  since  been 
completed,  and  embodied  in  a  very  neat  and  useful 
volume  issued  by  the  Massachusetts  Temperance  So 
ciety,  in  which  the  records  are  carried  up  to  the  death 
of  their  President,  Dr.  Warren ;  and  in  which  are,  of 
course,  displayed  his  labors,  and  the  continued  inte 
rest  which  he  took  in  the  objects  of  the  society. 
We  find  the  last  record  as  follows :  — 

JAN.  27,  1857. 

"The  Council  met  at  No.  2,  Park  Street,  — Hon.  Ste 
phen  Fairbanks  in  the  chair. 

"  The  Treasurer  announced  the  receipt  of  two  thousand 
dollars  from  the  administrators  of  the  late  Dr.  John  C. 
Warren ;  '  the  same  to  be  safely  invested,  and  the  income 
thereof  devoted  to  the  dissemination  of  temperance  publica 
tions.'  " 


236  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.          [JET.  50. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MEDICAL  AND  SURGICAL  JOURNAL.  —  DR.  GORHAM.  — LABORS  AND 
ARRANGEMENT   OF   TIME.  — PHYSICAL  EDUCATION. 

IN  1828,  the  "Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Jour 
nal  "  was  commenced.  The  "  New-England  Journal 
of  Medicine  and  Surgery"  had  sustained  its  charac 
ter  from  its  foundation.  But  the  professors,  whose  aid 
had  rendered  it  valuable,  had  now  become  fully  en 
gaged  in  private  practice,  and  were  unable  to  contri 
bute  freely  to  a  work  of  this  character.  The  last 
paper  contributed  by  Dr.  Warren  was  in  1823.  It 
was  thought  that  a  work  of  somewhat  lighter  cha 
racter,  published  oftener,  and  transmitting  medical 
news  more  rapidly,  —  a  work  somewhat  in  the  style 
of  the  "London  Lancet," — would  be  more  accept 
able. 

The  demand  for  a  weekly  publication  had  already 
given  rise,  in  1823,  to  the  "  Medical  Intelligencer," 
conducted  by  Dr.  J.  V.  C.  Smith,  and  afterwards  by 
Dr.  Coffin,  who  was  proprietor  and  editor  from  1825 
until  1828.  The  editors  of  the  "  New-England  Medi 
cal  Journal "  —  consisting,  at  that  time,  of  Drs.  Chan- 
ning  and  Ware  only  —  purchased  the  work  of  Dr. 
Coffin  for  six  hundred  dollars  (Di\  Warren  taking 


1828.]  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.  237 

two-thirds),  and  united  the  two  journals,  both  of 
which  had  large  lists  of  subscribers.  Dr.  Warren 
commenced  the  editorship.  He  threw  himself  into 
this  new  labor  with  his  usual  energy,  and  exerted 
himself,  heart  and  soul,  to  raise  the  work  to  the 
highest  point  of  excellence.  He  caused  the  Surgical 
Re  cords  of  the  Hospital  to  be  kept  with  more  exact 
ness  than  before,  by  appointing  a  person  for  this  spe 
cial  purpose ;  and  his  selections  from  these  form  a 
most  valuable  part  of  the  new  journal. 

The  first  volume  opens  with  "  Cases  of  Neuralgia," 
by  John  C.  Warren ;  giving  an  account  of  a  number 
of  cases,  in  some  of  which  he  removed  a  portion  of 
the  nerve  with  perfect  success.  One  case  of  remark 
able  cure  is  mentioned,  in  which  the  applicant,  being 
advised  to  have  the  nerve  divided,  took  immediate 
flight.  Some  time  after,  he  called  upon  the  doctor 
to  assure  him  that  he  was  perfectly  well,  and  dated 
his  recovery  from  the  proposal  of  the  operation. 

The  Hospital  Reports  in  Surgery,  which  were  not 
entirely  written  by  Dr.  Warren,  were  carefully  ex 
amined  and  corrected  by  him ;  and  he  wrote  all  the 
accounts  of  operations.  The  extracts  from  foreign 
journals  were  selected,  and  so  carefully  revised  and 
corrected  by  him,  that  the  whole  labor  of  preparing 
them  must  justly  be  considered  as  his. 

Among  many  articles  written  by  him,  "  Observa 
tions  upon  Ulceration  of  the  Kidneys,  with  Cases," 
are  of  great  interest.  These  cases  occurred  partly  in 
private  practice,  partly  at  the  hospital.  Case  fifth 


238  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.          [^T.  50. 

is  given  with  great  particularity,  and  was  one  of  a 
good  deal  of  importance. 

Among  the  Hospital  Reports  may  be  noticed  a  case 
of  dislocation  of  the  os  humeri,  with  fracture  of  the 
neck  of  the  bone  successfully  reduced ;  one  (No.  4), 
upon  carotid  aneurism,  giving  particular  instructions 
for  the  performance  of  the  operation,  with  an  account 
of  a  successful  though  very  difficult  case  ;  another,  of 
removal  of  half  of  the  lower  jawbone  for  osteo- 
sarcoma;  double  hare-lip,  with  fissure  through  the 
hard  and  soft  palate ;  a  successful  operation  for  cata 
ract,  with  a  very  particular  account  of  the  manner  of 
performing  it,  and  remarks  upon  this  disease.  "  By 
the  strict  pursuance  of  the  plan  laid  down,"  he  con 
cludes,  "  we  have  been  so  happy  as  to  avoid  the  loss 
of  a  single  eye  in  this  Institution." 

Dr.  Jackson's  valuable  paper  upon  the  "  Morbid 
Effects  of  Dentition"  was  republished  in  this  journal, 
page  241.  Dr.  Channing  furnished  reports  from  the 
medical  department  of  the  hospital,  and  many  other 
papers.  Dr.  Gorham  prepared  reports  of  the  wea 
ther,  and  diseases  prevalent  for  the  three  months  pre 
vious.  The  dispensary  physicians  published  their 
periodical  returns,  with  remarks ;  and,  among  these, 
we  find  the  names  of  several  whose  early  death  cut 
short  their  career  of  promise  and  usefulness.  Drs. 
Stevenson,  McKean,  Robbins,  and  Davis  were  among 
these. 

The  second  number  of  this  journal  contains  a  bio 
graphical  notice  of  Dr.  Danforth,  who  died  Nov.  16. 


1828.]  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.  239 

1827,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight.  This 
sketch  was  prepared  by  Dr.  Warren,  at  the  request  of 
the  family  of  Dr.  Danforth. 

In  the  commencement  of  the  second  volume,  he 
furnishes  a  paper  upon  the  influence  of  decomposing 
animal  matter  in  producing  fevers.  "  It  is  admitted 
by  the  whole  medical  world,"  he  says,  "  that  miasmata 
exist,  and  that  they  arise  from  the  decomposition  of 
vegetable  substance."  Some  persons  have  confounded 
the  effects  of  decomposing  animal  matter  with  those 
arising  from  vegetables.  "  The  object  of  these  re 
marks  is  to  point  out  the  error  of  this  opinion ;  to 
show  that  the  decomposition  of  dead  animal  matter 
does  not  generate  that  peculiar  principle  which  is  the 
special  cause  of  fevers  and  kindred  diseases ;  and  to 
show  this  by  facts,  many  of  which  are  notorious,  and 
within  the  cognizance  of  the  whole  community." 

Dr.  Warren  then  goes  into  a  strict  examination  of 
the  subject;  and,  first,  as  connected  with  those  pecu 
liarly  exposed  to  these  alleged  causes  of  disease, — 
butchers,  and  such  as  live  in  the  vicinity  of  slaughter 
houses  ;  soap-boilers,  tallow-chandlers,  tanners,  and 
curriers;  seamen  in  whaling-vessels;  grave-diggers 
and  nightmen.  Butchers,  he  shows,  are  more  healthy 
than  other  men :  and,  in  Europe,  he  states  that  it  is 
common  to  send  persons  laboring  with  pulmonary 
complaints  to  inhabit  the  neighborhood  of  slaughter 
houses  ;  the  good  effects  being  supposed  to  arise  from 
the  abundance  of  azotic  gas  which  is  generated  by 
decomposing  animal  substances.  Tanners,  curriers, 


240  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL. 


and  leather-dressers  are  as  healthy  as  other  men. 
Nightmen  are  not  subject  to  fevers  or  epidemics. 
The  seamen  of  whale-ships  are  more  healthy  than  the 
seamen  of  other  vessels.  Those  engaged  in  the  ma 
nufacture  of  glue  have  never  been  observed  to  be  less 
healthy  than  other  men.  Dr.  Rush  and  Dr.  Clark 
had  stated  that  grave-diggers  were  exempted  from 
malignant  fevers. 

To  all  this  he  adds  his  own  great  experience  in 
dissecting-rooms.  In  the  succeeding  number  of  the 
journal,  he  follows  up  his  evidence  by  extracts  from 
distinguished  authors,  which,  he  says,  "may  be 
thought  more  striking  and  conclusive  than  the  facts 
above  advanced." 

This  paper  is  worthy  of  attention  by  those  who  in 
terest  themselves  in  this  matter.  It  undoubtedly  is 
one  of  a  good  deal  of  importance,  and  affords  grounds 
for  comfort  and  assurance  to  those  necessarily  sub 
jected  to  the  sources  of  animal  putrefaction.  The 
question,  probably,  is  one  which  cannot  be  definitively 
settled  ;  because  what  is  offensive  to  the  senses  will, 
by  the  majority,  be  considered  detrimental  to  health. 
The  neighborhood  of  a  slaughter-house,  for  example, 
or  of  a  dead  horse,  will  always  be  considered  a  nui 
sance  ;  and,  if  the  burying  under  churches  produces 
a  gas  perceptible  to  the  congregation  above,  they  will 
not  very  readily  be  persuaded  that  it  is  healthy. 

The  subject  of  neuralgia,  commenced  in  the  open 
ing  of  the  first  volume,  is  continued  through  this. 
Numerous  cases  of  neuralgia  in  different  situations 


1829.]  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.  241 

are  given,  and  the  effect  of  particular  remedies  exem 
plified.  Among  these  are  cases  of  neuralgia  of  the 
lower  extremities,  neuralgia  of  the  upper  extremi 
ties,  of  the  trunk,  of  the  uterus  successfully  treated, 
of  the  solar  plexus,  of  nerves  of  the  abdomen,  &c. 
He  concludes  his  series  of  papers  with  remarks 
upon  the  different  remedies  employed.  He  speaks 
very  highly  of  the  effect  of  blisters,  as  the  most  fre 
quently  useful  of  all  remedies  in  this  disease.  The 
affusion  of  hot  water  he  considers  a  valuable  remedy, 
when  the  disease  is  seated  near  an  extremity.  The 
carbonate,  and  especially  the  sulphate,  of  iron,  are 
recommended  under  certain  circumstances ;  and, 
when  all  remedies  fail,  the  division  of  the  nerve. 
He  gives  the  following  conclusions  :  — 
"  1.  Neuralgia  is  a  disease  of  the  nerves.  The 
muscles  are  disordered  in  a  secondary  way  only. 

2.  This  affection  is  not  confined  to  the  head.     All 
the  principal  nerves    of  the  body  are  liable  to  be 
affected   with   it,  but   superficial   nerves  more   than 
others. 

3.  After  being  subdued  on  the  first  attack,  it  is  apt 
to  return  on  the  application  of  exciting  causes,  and  to 
become  one  of  the  most  intractable  of  complaints. 

4.  There  is  no  remedy  which  can  be  considered  a 
specific  cure  for  it.     There  is  no  one  remedy  which 
is  often  successful.     It  is  to  be  combated  by  various 
agents  judiciously  adapted  to  the  peculiarities  of  the 
case. 

5.  Of  consequence,  the   carbonate  of  iron  is  not 

31 


242  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.  [&?.  51. 

entitled   to  the  praises  which  have   been  bestowed 
upon  it ;  nor  is  hemlock,  stramonium,  or  belladonna. 

6.  A  surgical  operation  for  excision  of  the  affected 
nerve  is  frequently  successful  in  the  early  part  of  the 
disease ;   and  often  fails  in  a  protracted  case,  even 
when  it  gives  temporary  relief. 

7.  This  operation,  when  successful,  is  not  always 
followed    by    immediate    disappearance    of   the   pa 
roxysms. 

8.  The  affusion  of  hot  water  is  a  valuable  remedy 
when  the  disease  is  seated  in  an  extremity. 

9.  The  physical  and  intellectual  constitution  of  the 
patient  is  to  be  studied  carefully  at  first,  and  kept  in 
view  during  the  whole  course  of  the  disease. 

10.  The  patient  is  never  to  be  abandoned  to  his 
sufferings.     When  the  more  approved  remedies  have 
been  tried,  the  most  extraordinary  practice  is  justifi 
able." 

The  reports  of  surgical  cases  and  operations  in 
this  volume  were  prepared  by  Mr.  Willard  Parker, 
now  Professor  Parker,  of  New- York  University,  who 
was  then  house-surgeon;  observations  and  remarks 
being  added  by  Dr.  Warren.  Among  these  were 
reports  of  tumors ;  fractures,  —  one  of  wound  in  the 
hand,  terminating  fatally  ;  one  of  extirpation  of 
cancer  uteri;  two  for  artificial  uretha,  which  were 
successful ;  and  one  of  compound  comminuted  frac 
ture,  which  required  amputation. 

The  extirpation  of  cancer  of  the  uterus  was  the 
first  that  was  practised  here.  The  neck,  with  about 


1829.]  MEDICAL    AND    SURGICAL    JOURNAL.  243 

half  of  the  body,  of  the  organ  was  removed.  This 
operation,  though  not  successful,  Dr.  Warren  thinks 
warrants  a  belief  that  it  may  succeed,  if  performed  in 
an  early  stage  of  the  disease.  The  patient  in  this 
case  survived  three  days,  and  died,  not  of  inflamma 
tion  or  gangrene,  or  the  union  of  the  peritonium, 
but  probably  from  the  effects  of  bleeding,  and  her 
great  exhaustion  by  pain,  and  the  discharges  previous 
to  the  operation. 

The  third  volume  of  this  journal  contains  a  letter 
from  Kev.  Dr.  Porter,  of  Andover,  to  Dr.  Warren, 
upon  the  climate  of  St.  Augustine ;  which  appears  to 
be  the  only  article  furnished  by  him  for  this  volume 
or  the  several  succeeding  ones,  until  the  fifteenth  in 
1836. 

The  editors  conducted  this  work  with  great  skill 
and  ability  for  one  or  two  years :  but  it  was  soon  found 
that  this  way  of  publication  did  not  answer ;  for  all 
the  loss  fell  upon  the  proprietors,  and  all  the  gain  to 
the  publisher,  as  is  probably  the  usual  case.  After 
an  expense  of  two  or  three  hundred  dollars,  they 
gave  it  up  to  the  publisher.  It  was  for  a  time  con 
ducted  by  Dr.  C.  Bobbins ;  after  which  Dr.  J.  V.  C. 
Smith  became  editor,  and  held  charge  of  it  for  many 
years,  until  his  election  as  Mayor  of  the  city  rendered 
it  necessary  for  him  to  resign  the  active  duties  of  edi 
torship.  They  were  assumed  by  Drs.  Morland  and 
Minot,  who,  the  succeeding  year,  became  sole  editors, 
and  have  since  conducted  it  with  great  ability. 

In  the  account  given  of  this  journal,  the  labors  of 


244  LETTER    FROM    DR.    WARE,  [J&T.  51. 

Dr.  Warren  have  been  principally  alluded  to  as  con 
nected  with  his  biography,  and  as  coming  within  the 
especial  knowledge  of  the  writer.  It  is  by  no  means 
intended  to  disparage  the  labors  of  the  other  early 
editors,  —  Drs.  Channing  and  Ware.  The  following 
letter  from  Dr.  Ware  is  important  to  the  history  of 
this  publication :  — 

Letter  from  Dr.  Ware. 

In  1824,  the  editorship  of  the  "  New-England  Journal  " 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Channing  and  myself.  The 
subscription  was  small,  and  the  work  hardly  paid  its  way. 
We  thought  of  giving  it  up  in  1827  ;  but  the  plan  was  then 
suggested  of  uniting  its  list  with  the  "  Medical  Intelli 
gencer,"  then  conducted  by  Dr.  John  Gr.  Coffin.  Dr.  John 
C.  Warren  united  with  us  in  purchasing  that  journal ;  and 
the  "  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal "  was  begun 
under  our  joint  charge.  I  forget  how  long  we  continued  it ; 
but  we  found  it  not  only  a  laborious  but  a  losing  concern, 
and  we  disposed  of  the  whole  to  Mr.  Cotton.  I  could  not 
at  the  time  assume  any  pecuniary  risk,  and  Dr.  Warren 
accordingly  took  two-thirds  of  it :  and,  as  an  offset,  I  per 
formed  the  quarter  part  of  his  labor  in  getting  up  the  num 
ber  ;  i.e.,  of  the  mechanical  part,  which  it  fell  to  his  share 
to  edit.  As  the  editors  were  responsible  for  the  expenses, 
the  publisher  was  quite  slack  in  getting  subscriptions,  and 
collecting  moneys  due.  It  was,  therefore,  some  years  after 
we  gave  it  up  before  our  purchase-money  was  re-imbursed. 
I  believe  that  the  outlay  was  chiefly  repaid :  probably  some 
thing  was  lost.  We  gave  six  hundred  dollars  to  Dr.  Coffin 
for  his  interest  in  the  work.  The  course  of  the  work  since 
then  is  given  correctly  in  the  "  Journal." 


1829.]  DEATH    OF    DR.    GORHAM.  245 

Dr.  Warren's  chronological  records  notice  the 
death  of  Dr.  John  Gorham,  who  died  March  27, 
1829.  Dr.  Gorham  had  received  the  advantage  of 
two  years'  residence  in  Europe,  after  completing  his 
medical  studies  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  John  War 
ren;  and,  upon  his  return  home,  had  married  the 
daughter  of  his  preceptor.  He  was  soon  after  asso 
ciated  with  his  friend  Dr.  Dexter  in  the  professorship 
of  chemistry  and  mineralogy;  and,  in  1816,  became 
sole  professor,  his  colleague  having  retired.  Dr. 
Gorham  and  Dr.  Warren  were,  therefore,  not  only 
united  by  family  ties,  but  by  their  association  in  the 
Medical  School,  where  a  close  union,  friendly  inter 
course,  and  concert  of  action,  were  preserved,  such  as 
has  rarely  been  surpassed.  Dr.  Gorham  was  in  the 
vigor  of  life;  and  his  business  had  accumulated  so 
much,  that,  two  years  previous  to  his  death,  he  had 
resigned  his  professorship.  Nevertheless,  he  fell  a 
victim  to  the  great  exertions  which  his  increased  prac 
tice  required,  especially  during  the  prevalence  of  the 
yellow  fever  in  Boston.  During  his  short  illness,  he 
was  visited  constantly  by  Drs.  Jackson  and  Warren. 

In  the  early  difficulties  of  the  Medical  School,  in 
the  controversy  relative  to  a  College  of  Physicians, 
&c.,  he  had  stood  side  by  side  with  them.  In  all  the 
medical  enterprises,  in  the  establishment  of  medical 
journals,  in  the  formation  of  a  code  of  medical  laws, 
in  the  compilation  of  the  "  New-England  Pharmaco 
poeia,"  and  in  all  the  concerns  relating  to  the  lectures, 
they  had,  for  more  than  fifteen  years,  acted  in  concert. 


246  LABORS    AT    THIS    PERIOD.  [yET.  51. 


The  loss  of  Dr.  Gorham  must  have  made  a  breach  in 
the  circle  of  medical  professors  which  could  not  be 
easily  filled  up.  Though  he  had  retired  from  the 
labors  of  the  lectures  as  Emeritus  Professor,  he  was 
still  closely  connected  with  them,  and  united  by 
bonds  of  interest  and  sympathy. 

In  1828,  when  the  "Boston  Medical  Journal"  was 
commenced,  Dr.  Warren  was  in  the  zenith  of  his 
medical  career.  He  had  an  extensive  private  prac 
tice,  medical  as  well  as  surgical  ;  he  was  the  leading 
operator  in  New  England  ;  his  labors  in  the  tempe 
rance  cause  had  recently  commenced  ;  the  aifairs  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  had  a  large  share  of  his  attention, 
and  he  was  interested  in  various  societies  ;  and  all 
these  cares  in  addition  to  those  of  his  professorship. 
It  was  about  this  time  that  the  difficulty  of  procuring 
subjects  for  dissection  was  at  its  height.  He  has 
given  so  full  an  account  of  these  matters,  as  will 
appear  hereafter,  that  nothing  more  need  here  be 
said  ;  but  this  was  a  serious  addition  to  his  toils.  He 
arranged  his  lecture  the  evening  before  ;  but  gene 
rally  spent  an  hour  in  his  private  dissecting-room, 
previous  to  his  lecture,  in  further  preparation.  In 
every  one  of  these  labors,  he  exerted  himself  as  if  the 
one  in  question,  at  the  time,  was  the  most  important 
concern  in  life.  It  could  not  be  said  of  him,  — 

"  Whate'er  he  did  was  done  with  so  much  ease  !  " 

On  the  contrary,  he  thought  nothing  worth  wasting 
time  upon  that  was  not  worth  serious  attention  and 


1829.]  HABITS.  247 

severe  labor ;  and  he  doubtless  experienced  much 
more  pleasure  in  spending  a  spare  hour  in  some  deli 
cate  dissection,  or  preparing  an  anatomical  specimen, 
than  in  perusing  even  a  French  translation  of  the 
Waverley  novels,  —  a  labor  or  indulgence  which  he 
did  sometimes  allow  himself. 

At  this  period,  he  rose  in  winter,  and  breakfasted, 
by  candle-light,  and  went  directly  out  to  visit  his 
patients  until  one ;  except  during  the  lectures,  when 
he  passed  usually  two  hours  at  the  Medical  College. 
From  one  to  two,  he  received  patients  at  his  house. 
He  devoted  about  twenty  minutes  to  his  dinner ;  after 
wrhich,  he  retired  to  his  room  for  an  hour.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  afternoon,  he  visited  such  patients  as 
required  a  second  visit,  and  then  took  a  cup  of  tea  in 
his  study  at  seven ;  after  which,  he  wrote  and  worked 
upon  the  subjects  before  mentioned,  often,  if  not 
generally,  until  two  in  the  morning.  The  greater 
part  of  this  time  he  devoted  to  the  "  Medical  Jour 
nal,"  preparing  the  Hospital  Records,  selecting  ex 
tracts  from  foreign  journals,  and  writing  original 
articles.  The  late  hours  which  he  kept  at  this  period 
doubtless  did  serious  injury  to  his  eyes. 

He  was  now  also  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  in  the 
temperance  cause. 

In  August,  1830,  Dr.  Warren  gave,  by  request,  a 
lecture  on  physical  education,  before  a  convention  of 
teachers  and  friends  of  education. 

It  was  listened  to  with  great  attention  by  a  large 
concourse  of  people;  and  seems  to  have  been  at- 


248  PHYSICAL    EDUCATION.  [-£T.  52. 

tended  with  important  results,  by  calling  the  attention 
of  teachers  and  others  to  a  subject  of  the  highest 
importance  for  the  happiness  and  well-being  of 
society. 

When  the  old  routine  of  school  education  was 
abandoned,  and  fifteen  years  of  peace  and  increasing 
prosperity  had  caused  greater  exertions  to  be  made, 
and  new  forms  of  instruction  to  be  adopted,  the  dan 
ger  was,  at  first,  not  perceived  of  injuring  the  body 
while  the  mind  was  cultivated  and  crammed,  if  the 
expression  may  be  allowed. 

The  lecturer  commences  by  calling  attention  to 
the  importance  of  health  to  the  regular  exercise 
of  the  mental  faculties,  which  "is  well  understood 
in  theory,"  he  says,  "  and  very  generally  neglected  in 
practice.  What  is  the  value  of  brilliant  genius,  or 
a  highly  cultivated  mind,  to  a  weak  and  laboring 
frame  1 "  The  high  importance  of  health  to  the 
minister  of  religion,  the  interpreter  of  the  law,  the 
professor  of  the  healing  art,  is  eloquently  enforced. 

On  the  more  delicate  sex,  the  effects  of  a  debili 
tated  body  are  not  less  distressing.  "  A  young  female, 
at  the  age  of  twelve  or  fourteen,  presents  a  beautiful 
figure,  rosy  cheeks,  an  airy  step,  and  the  fulness  of  life 
and  happiness  in  every  movement.  As  she  advances, 
her  vivacity  naturally  lessens  ;  but,  as  if  it  would  not 
be  soon  enough  extinguished,  it  must  be  repressed 
by  art.  The  lively  motions  of  the  body  must  be 
checked,  the  spirits  must  be  restrained,  and  a  sort  of 
unnatural  hypocrisy  made  to  conceal  every  ingenuous 


1830.]  PHYSICAL    EDUCATION.  249 

movement.  The  activity  of  disposition  is  destroyed. 
By  confinement,  she  loses  the  inclination  for  exercise, 
and  passes  from  her  school  to  a  state  of  listlessness 
at  home,  or  to  frivolous  and  useless  amusements,  or 
perhaps  to  fresh  tasks.  By  this  regular  repression  of 
the  physical  powers,  their  energy  is  at  last  broken ; 
various  organs  lose  their  tone  and  their  healthy  action. 
Even  the  most  solid  parts  are  gradually  impaired; 
and,  being  unable  to  support  their  ordinary  burden, 
they  sink  under  its  weight,  and  bring  on  unchange 
able  deformity." 

Moral  causes  are  next  discussed,  —  the  influence 
of  too  great  occupation  of  the  mind  in  study,  and  of 
feelings  and  passions  of  a  depressing  nature.  The 
effects  of  competition  and  rivalry  are  often  seen  in 
the  loss  of  health  from  persevering  application. 
"When  this  becomes  an  all-absorbing  passion,  the 
result  is  most  unfriendly  to  the  physical  organization  ; 
and  a  multitude  of  fine  constitutions  are  ruined  by  it 
in  both  sexes." 

The  lecturer  cannot  decide  whether  any  proper 
substitute  for  competition  in  the  male  sex  can  be 
found.  So  far  as  his  experience  goes,  he  thinks  it  can. 

u  The  application  of  rivalry  to  the  softer  sex  (I 
speak  with  submission  to  greater  experience)  appears 
to  me  to  be  fraught  with  mischief.  It  inflames  the 
imagination,  festers  the  passions,  and  poisons  the  hap 
piness  of  the  brightest  days  of  life.  It  seems  as 
unnecessary  as  it  is  pernicious." 

If  no  substitute  is  at  present  known,  Dr.  Warren 

32 


250  PHYSICAL    EDUCATION.  [JE.T.  52. 

thinks  that  the  ingenuity  and  intelligence  of  instruc 
tors  cannot  be  better  employed  than  in  devising  one. 
The  reasoning  process,  he  thinks,  may  be  employed 
with  great  advantage ;  and  children  may  be  led  to 
understand  that  the  path  of  duty  is  the  easiest  one. 

This  lecture  was  delivered  over  a  quarter  of  a  cen 
tury  ago.  The  mode  of  education  has  been  greatly 
improved,  and  much  greater  efforts  are  made  than 
formerly,  to  interest  children  in  their  studies.  How 
far  these  efforts  have  succeeded,  the  question  may 
still  be  asked,  whether  the  true  theory  of  education 
is  not  to  teach  young  people  to  learn  for  the  sake 
of  knowledge,  —  for  the  sake  of  what  will  be  prac 
tically  useful  to  them.  Do  the  fruits  of  instruction 
ever  become  of  advantage  until  the  individual  is 
aware  of  their  value] 

The  old  methods  of  instruction  were  invaluable,  in 
the  habits  of  discipline  and  of  application  which  they 
produced ;  but  the  learning  itself  was  of  little  practi 
cal  value. 

Girting  the  chest  in  females  is  alluded  to  with 
strong  reprobation. 

"  In  what  notions  of  beauty  this  practice  took  its 
origin,  I  am  unable  to  discover.  The  angular  projec 
tions,  formed  by  a  tightly  drawn  cord,  are  in  direct 
opposition  to  the  models  of  Grecian  or  Roman  beauty. 
In  the  flowing  robes  of  the  Juno,  the  Vesta,  and  Di 
ana,  every  part  is  light  and  graceful.  Nor  have  I 
been  able  to  discover  in  the  representation  of  the 
Muses  or  the  Graces  any  habiliment  which  would 


1830.]  PHYSICAL   EDUCATION.  251 

lead  us  to  believe  they  wore  stays  or  corsets.  The 
taste  of  the  other  sex  is  uniformly  opposed  to  the 
wasp-like  waist  and  boarded  chest." 

This  discourse  was  received  with  extreme  attention, 
and  was  attended  with  greater  results  than  such  pro 
ductions  generally  effect.  If  it  did  not  excite,  it  gave 
impulse  to,  the  general  medical  crusade  against  corsets, 
—  the  prominent  fashionable  enormity,  in  dress,  of 
the  time.  Corsets  were  abandoned ;  but  other  abuses 
of  dress  took  their  place,  and  gradually  prepared  the 
way  for  their  revival ;  though  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
tight  lacing  is  not,  and  will  not  be,  revived.  The 
flowing  robes  of  the  Juno,  the  Vesta,  and  the  Diana, 
are,  unfortunately,  not  suited  to  our  climate ;  but  they 
still  may  be  held  up  as  examples  of  a  grand  princi 
ple, —  a  desideratum  which  should  always  be  aimed 
at  in  reforms  of  dress,  but  which  has  never  been 
generally  enforced. 

This  principle  is  the  freedom  from  all  ligatures, 
which  are  now  abundant  in  a  female  dress.  It  is 
remarkable,  that,  while  these  have  been  entirely  aban 
doned  in  the  male  dress,  they  are  still  perseveringly 
employed  in  the  female. 

Since  1830,  much  attention  has  been  given,  espe 
cially  in  the  normal  schools,  to  physical  education. 
Whether  the  knowledge  that  is  derived  from  the 
superficial  study  of  anatomy  and  physiology  serves 
any  more  than  to  mislead,  or  whether,  in  these 
sciences,  "  a  little  knowledge  is  a  dangerous  thing," 
must  be  shown  by  experience. 


252  PHYSICAL   EDUCATION.  [^Ex.  52. 

This  lecture  was  made  the  basis  of  a  little  volume 
on  the  "Preservation  of  Health,"  in  1846,  and  pub 
lished  anew,  with  additions,  in  1854;  which  last 
edition  was  stereotyped. 


1830.]  CONSULTING    PHYSICIANS.  253 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

BOARD  OF  CONSULTING  PHYSICIANS.  —  CHOLERA.  —  CASE  OF 
SUSPENDED  ANIMATION.  —  DEATH  OF  HIS  MOTHER.  —  MEDI 
CAL  CASES.  —  RECREATIONS. 

DR.  WARREN  was  appointed  Consulting  Physician  of 
the  city  of  Boston  in  June,  1824,  together  with  Drs. 
Aaron  Dexter,  James  Jackson,  Horace  Bean,  and 
John  Gorham,  by  virtue  of  an  "  ordinance  establish 
ing  and  regulating  the  quarantine  of  vessels." 

Dr.  Warren,  as  elsewhere  stated,  had  the  records 
preserved  and  copied  at  his  own  expense. 

The  first  reports  relate  to  the  small-pox.  It  had 
been  the  custom  to  remove  every  patient  aifected  with 
small-pox  to  Rainsford's  Island,  six  miles  from  the 
city,  to  the  evident  risk  of  their  lives.  In  1828,  cases 
occurred  in  Boston;  and  the  consulting  physicians 
were  called  upon  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
removing  them.  They  recommended  the  establish 
ment  of  a  small-pox  hospital,  and  also  that  greater 
precautions  should  be  taken  in  visiting  small-pox 
patients. 

The  hospital,  or  place  of  reception,  for  this  class  of 
patients,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  ever  provided. 
A  general  revaccination,  however,  ensued ;  and  there 
was  much  controversy  in  the  medical  journals  with 


254  ASIATIC    CHOLERA.  [J&r.  54. 

regard  to  the  perfect  and  lasting  efficacy  of  the  cow- 
pox.  It  seems  to  have  become  settled,  that  though 
cow-pox  is  as  perfect  a  protection  as  small-pox  itself, 
yet  it  is  expedient  to  test  the  perfectness  of  the  first 
affection  by  revaccination. 

About  1830,  remote  rumors  were  heard  of  a  terrific 
pestilence  which  had  commenced  in  Asia  as  early  as 
1817 ;  had  spread  on  all  sides,  sweeping  all  before  it; 
and  was  now  spreading  into  Europe,  and  pervading 
Russia.  Extending  further  west  every  year,  it 
reached  Germany  in  1831;  and  soon  great  alarm 
prevailed  in  America. 

In  October,  1831,  the  Board  were  consulted  by  the 
Quarantine  Committee,  "  whether,  in  the  existing  state 
of  the  cholera-morbus  in  the  north  of  Europe,  vessels 
arriving  from  that  quarter  can  receive  all  the  benefits 
which  may  result  from  the  disinfecting  process,  with 
out  removing  their  cargoes."  The  Report,  signed  by 
John  C.  Warren  and  the  others,  was  against  the 
necessity  of  unloading. 

June,  1832,  the  Board  was  again  called  together 
to  consider  "  whether  any  measures  are  proper  to  be 
adopted  in  this  city  on  account  of  the  appearance  of 
the  Asiatic  cholera  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic." 

They  reported,  that  from  the  measures  which  had 
already  been  taken,  and  for  other  reasons,  the  cholera 
would  probably  be  limited  in  extent,  if  it  should  ap 
pear.  They  advised  the  removal  of  all  collections  of 
filth ;  and  that,  for  this  purpose,  committees  should  be 
appointed  in  every  ward  to  discover,  and  cause  to 


1832.]  ASIATIC    CHOLERA.  255 

be  removed,  all  decomposing  vegetable  and  animal 
matter.  Also  that  an  organization  should  be  formed 
for  the  benefit  of  the  sick  poor,  and  proper  places 
selected  for  hospitals;  that  the  Board  prepare  and 
publish  immediately,  under  the  sanction  of  the  city 
authorities,  all  such  advice  and  directions  as  may  be 
proper  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  the  disease  in 
individuals ;  and  also  all  the  proper  measures  to  be 
employed,  in  case  of  attack,  before  medical  advice 
can  be  obtained.  They  conclude  by  advising  every 
man  to  fearlessly  perform  his  duty,  in  full  trust  and 
confidence  in  the  Preserver  of  health,  and  the  Author 
of  disease,  that  nothing  evil  can  befall  him  while  he 
is  so  doing. 

A  Report  was  afterwards  prepared,  written,  it  is 
believed,  by  Dr.  Warren,  the  Chairman  of  the  Board, 
giving  full  directions  to  the  public  for  the  prevention 
of  cholera,  and  especially  for  the  management  and 
relief  of  persons  attacked,  before  medical  advice  could 
be  obtained.  This  Report  was  published  in  all  the 
papers  of  the  day,  and  may  be  found  at  length  in 
the  sixth  volume  of  the  "  Boston  Medical  and  Surgi 
cal  Journal,"  page  317.  Subsequent  experience  in 
the  treatment  of  cholera  has  afforded  no  results  to 
invalidate  the  usefulness  of  the  advice  here  given. 
The  general  directions  are  as  valuable  for  the  conduct 
and  prevention  of  other  epidemic  diseases  as  of  cho 
lera. 

In  his  own  practice,  Dr.  Warren,  when  early  called 
to  a  case  of  threatened  cholera,  gave  a  full  emetic  of 


256  ASIATIC    CHOLERA.  [^ET.  54. 

ipecac,  which  was  afterwards  followed  by  opiates. 
Hot  applications  and  rubefacients  were,  of  course, 
not  neglected.  His  course  was  generally  completely 
successful.  Physicians  in  practice  in  Boston  at  that 
time  will  fully  recollect  that  they  had  abundant  busi 
ness.  There  prevailed  a  very  strong  tendency  to 
bowel  complaints ;  and  alarms  proceeding  from  slight 
attacks  were  very  prevalent.  Many  of  these  yielded 
to  abstinence,  sometimes  aided  by  opiates ;  but  others 
required  more  vigorous  treatment.  There  was  every 
reason  to  suppose  that  attacks  of  great  suddenness 
and  violence  would  have  proceeded  rapidly  to  the 
stage  of  collapse,  if  they  had  not  been  checked  in 
the  manner  mentioned. 

The  ravages  of  the  cholera  in  Boston  that  season 
were  very  slight,  and  the  value  of  the  course  which 
had  been  pursued  was  put  fully  to  the  proof.  Boston 
never  before  went  through  such  a  thorough  cleansing ; 
and  the  inhabitants  prepared  with  as  good  a  will  to 
resist  the  cholera,  as  they  did  in  1814  to  resist  foreign 
invasion.  The  effects  have  been  permanent;  and 
the  city  is  indebted  to  the  cholera  for  much  of  its 
present  cleanliness  and  health,  as  well  as  the  freedom 
from  epidemics,  which  formerly  were  not  so  rare  as 
at  present. 

The  Medical  Society  was  equally  active.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Councillors,  in  February,  1832,  a  com 
mittee  was  appointed  to  investigate  the  history  of 
cholera,  and  especially  the  best  mode  of  treating  it  ; 
and  to  consider  whether  it  was  or  was  not  contagious. 


1832.J  ASIATIC    CHOLERA.  257 

For  this  purpose,  a  sum  was  appropriated  to  enable 
them  to  purchase  books,  &c. ;  and  they  were  author 
ized  to  publish  the  results  at  the  expense  of  the 
society.  James  Jackson,  John  C.  Warren,  and 
George  Hayward,  were  the  first  named  upon  this 
committee.  The  Report  was  prepared  with  much 
care,  and  was  of  great  value  at  the  time.  It  is  of 
equal  value  now,  as  a  compendious  treatise  on  the 
subject,  both  in  a  historical  and  practical  point  of 
view.  Dr.  Warren  took  a  strong  interest  in  its  pre 
paration,  and  neglected  nothing  on  his  part  which 
could  add  to  its  value. 

The  further  labors  of  this  Board  will  be  spoken  of 
in  the  order  of  time,  as  circumstances  called  them 
forth. 

We  may  introduce  here  the  following  letter,  com 
municated  to  Dr.  Warren  from  Hon.  H.  A.  S.  Dear 
born,  containing  a  very  interesting  case  of  apparent 
death.  It  is  directed  to  Henry  G.  R.  Dearborn. 

WASHINGTON,  Jan.  6,  1832. 

MY  DEAR  H.,  —  As  connected  with  your  profession,  I  will 
give  you  an  account  of  a  most  remarkable  instance  of  the 
suspension  of  all  muscular  motion  and  apparent  death, 
which  was  related  to  me  some  few  days  since,  in  the  House 
of  Representatives,  by  the  Hon.  0.  Doddridge,  of  Western 
Virginia.  He  is  a  distinguished  and  influential  member  of 
the  House,  about  sixty  years  of  age.  Some  years  since,  he 
was  returning  home  from  a  visit  in  Ohio,  and  rode,  during 
a  cold  day,  against  a  violent  wind  and  snow-storm,  nearly 
fifty  miles,  on  horseback ;  and,  when  he  reached  his  house, 

33 


258  SUSPENDED    ANIMATION.  [-&T.  54. 

was  nearly  benumbed  from  his  exposed  and  uncomfortable 
journey.  He  desired  his  wife  to  have  a  fire  made  in  his 
bedroom,  and  such  other  methods  taken  as  were  best  cal 
culated  to  prevent  deleterious  consequences.  The  next 
morning,  his  lungs  were  much  inflamed  ;  and  he  sent  for  his 
brother,  who  was  a  physician,  and  in  whom  he  reposed  the 
utmost  confidence.  After  feeling  his  pulse,  he  said  that 
blood  must  be  taken  away  ;  presuming,  as  he  afterward 
stated,  that  there  was  an  inflammation  of  the  stomach  and 
viscera.  He  was  bled  until  he  fell :  and,  to  restore  him,  he 
was  put  into  bed,  and  laudanum  was  administered  to  the 
amount  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  drops  ;  and,  when  he  revived, 
he  was  not  only  deranged,  but  so  excited  that  he  imme 
diately  got  up,  and  began  to  make  speeches  on  all  kinds 
of  subjects,  political  and  religious.  Being  replaced  on 
the  bed,  it  was  surrounded  by  men  to  prevent  him  from  get 
ting  off.  Thus  hedged  in,  he  walked  backward  and  forward 
on  the  bed,  and  was  constantly  declaiming.  This  continued 
for  twenty-nine  hours ;  and  some  young  lawyers,  who  were 
called  in  to  assist  in  guarding  him,  propounded  various 
questions  for  him  to  discuss.  At  last,  he  fell  apparently 
dead.  The  doctor  said  he  had  expired ;  and  he  was  laid 
out.  His  eyes  being  open,  one  of  the  young  gentlemen  pre 
sent  was  requested  to  close  them.  He  replied,  that  he  could 
not ;  and  the  doctor  did  it,  placing  two  half-dollars  over 
them  to  keep  the  lids  down.  His  lower  jaw  having  fallen, 
a  white  handkerchief  was  tied  about  his  head  to  support  it. 
All  this  time  he  had  his  senses  perfectly,  and  heard  all  that 
was  said,  his  reason  having  been  restored  the  moment  he 
fell ;  but  he  was  unable  to  make  the  least  motion,  except 
in  his  left  great  toe,  which,  when  they  were  straightening  his 
legs,  he  moved,  to  indicate  he  was  not  dead.  But,  as  often 
as  it  was  done,  the  effort  was  made  to  stretch  out  his  limbs ; 


1832.]  SUSPENDED    ANIMATION.  259 

and,  as  the  pain  was  most  excruciating,  he  ceased  to  move 
his  toe.  The  closing  of  his  lids  occasioned  the  greatest 
agony.  His  wife  did  not  believe  he  was  dead,  and  insisted 
upon  some  warm  brandy  being  put  in  his  mouth,  and  fric 
tion  applied ;  but  the  doctor  told  her  it  was  useless,  as  he 
was  dead,  and  she  must  endeavor  to  bear  it  with  fortitude. 
She  still  insisted ;  when  the  doctor  urged  her  to  leave  the 
room ;  but  she  refused  to  go.  Mr.  Doddridge  heard  all 
this ;  and  knowing  his  wife  was  a  resolute  woman,  and  his 
brother  a  firm  and  decided  man,  he  considered  the  only 
chance  of  not  being  buried  alive  was  the  fortitude  and 
determined  character  of  his  wife.  The  doctor,  finding 
arguments  and  persuasion  did  not  prevail,  commanded  her 
to  retire  from  the  room,  and  she  reluctantly  obeyed  ;  but,  in 
about  ten  minutes,  she  rushed  back,  and  commanded  all  the 
men  to  leave  the  room,  and  said  that  she  and  the  women 
who  were  present  would  attempt  to  resuscitate  her  husband. 
She  was  indulged.  A  teaspoonful  of  brandy  was  put  into  his 
mouth,  after  removing  the  bandage  from  his  jaw.  He  heard 
her  say  it  had  passed  down  ;  and,  on  repeating  it,  the  women 
said  they  could  discover  a  slight  effort  to  swallow.  They 
then  began  to  use  friction,^  and  rubbed  him  from  head  to 
foot.  Mr.  Doddridge  observed,  that,  at  this  time,  he  had 
lost  all  affection  for  his  wife  and  family,  and  his  whole  mind 
was  engrossed  with  the  fear  of  being  buried  alive ;  but 
while  his  favorite  daughter,  thirteen  years  old,  was  rub 
bing  his  feet,  he  heard  her  say,  "  Mamma,  dear  father's 
feet  are  becoming  warm  and  moist ! "  Then  all  a  fond 
father's  feelings  rushed  into  his  soul,  and  all  a  husband's 
love.  In  a  few  moments,  he  jumped  upon  his  feet ;  but 
was  as  delirious  again  as  before,  and  began  to  stride  about 
the  room,  declaiming  in  a  violent  manner,  which  he  con 
tinued  for  an  hour,  and  then  fell  apparently  dead,  when 


260  SUSPENDED    ANIMATION.  [^ET.  54. 

his  reason,  instantly  returned ;  but  he  was  as  incapable  of 
motion  and  speech  as  before.  The  doctor  then  told  his  wife 
(which  he  heard)  that  he  was  now  irrecoverably  gone,  arid 
ordered  her  to  leave  the  room ;  which  she  peremptorily 
refused  to  do,  and  commanded  him  and  all  the  men  to  leave 
her  and  her  maid  with  him.  In  some  hours,  the  doctor 
called,  and  endeavored  to  induce  her  to  believe  he  was 
actually  dead.  She  replied,  "  He  is  in  a  sweet  sleep,  and 
will  recover."  After  being  in  a  slumber  for  eighteen 
hours,  at  the  expiration  of  which  it  was  nearly  evening, 
a  friend  called  to  inquire  about  him  ;  and  he  heard,  as  in  a 
doze  half  asleep  and  awake,  the  conversation  (during  most 
of  the  period  of  the  doze,  he  heard  all  that  was  said)  ;  and-,  a 
few  minutes  after  his  friend  went  away,  he  awoke,  and  in 
stantly  asked  if  such  a  person  had  not  been  in  the  room, 
related  the  conversation,  and  desired  her  to  send  one  of 
his  sons  after  him,  and  desire  him  to  come  back,  as  he 
wished  to  see  him.  When  the  friend  returned,  he  was 
astounded,  —  for  he  went  away  with  the  full  belief  Mr. 
Doddridge  was  dead,  —  and  asked  him,  "Do  you  know 
me?"  To  which  Mr.  Doddridge  replied,  "  Certainly." 
"  How  do  you  feel  ?  "  Mr.  Doddridge  replied,  "  As  well  as 
I  ever  did  in  my  life."  After  his  friend  went  away,  he  told 
his  wife  he  was  very  hungry,  and  wished  for  something  to 
eat.  She  said  she  would  make  him  some  chicken  broth. 
He  replied,  "  No :  I  want  a  hearty  meal  of  fried  bacon."  It 
was  prepared.  He  ate  a  hearty  supper ;  had  a  good  night's 
rest ;  and  the  next  day  he  set  out  on  horseback  for  Rich 
mond,  as  well  as  he  ever  was. 

He  stated  that  his  feelings  during  the  period  when  his 
brother  pronounced  him  dead,  laid  him  out,  and  ordered  his 
wife  from  the  room,  were  horrible  ;  and,  for  months  after 
wards,  he  could  not  bear  to  hear  the  event  named  :  and  this 


1832.]  SUSPENDED    ANIMATION.  261 

from  his  having  taken  up  the  "  Black  Dwarf  "  while  on  his 
way  to  Richmond,  which  contained  an  account  of  a  like 
case  in  Scotland,  I  think,  where  the  man  was  actually 
buried,  heard  the  earth  rattle  on  his  coffin  as  they  filled  up 
the  grave,  and  the  mourners  move  away ;  but  fortunately 
the  resurrection-men  came  in  the  evening  to  take  up  his 
body  for  dissection.  He  heard  the  first  stroke  of  the  pick 
axe  and  spade  in  the  work  of  disinterment,  the  opening  of 
the  coffin,  and  all  that  was  said  as  they  carried  him  into  the 
room  of  dissection.  His  own  physician  was  to  lecture  on 
him,  and,  with  a  knife,  made  an  incision  in  the  breast.  This 
roused  him ;  and,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  audience,  he 
rose  up  and  spoke.  The  reason  of  his  wife's  pertinacity 
was,  the  recollection  of  the  facts  stated  in  an  article  he  had 
some  months  previous  read  to  her,  from  an  encyclopaedia, 
on  premature  or  hasty  burials.  To  these  two  circumstances 
he  owed  his  restoration,  or  lie  would  have  experienced  the 
horrible  act  of  being  buried  alive. 

The  reason  of  this  interesting  case  being  related  was  this : 
We  were  sitting  with  another  Virginia  member,  and  the 
latter  was  speaking  of  an  able  speaker  who  was  in  the  Vir 
ginia  Legislature  with  Mr.  Doddridge  some  years  since, 
whom  all  feared  from  his  powerful  manner  of  putting  down 
all  who  opposed  him.  Mr.  Doddridge  said  he  had  twice 
triumphed  over  the  terror  of  the  member  ;  but,  notwith 
standing,  this  remarkable  man  had  made  an  eloquent 
funeral  oration  over  him.  At  the  time  Mr.  Doddridge  was 
laid  out,  a  member,  going  down  to  Richmond,  called  at  his 
house  (which  is  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio),  and  there  was 
informed  that  he  was  dead,  and  laid  out.  This  he  an 
nounced  to  the  House,  when  the  eulogy  was  pronounced ; 
but  a  few  days  after,  to  the  utter  astonishment  of  all,  Mr. 
Doddridge  entered,  and  took  his  seat. 


262  PRACTICE. 


This  being  such  a  well-authenticated  case,  I  consider  it 
important  that  you  should  never  forget  it  in  practice,  in  the 
event  of  sudden  deaths.  I  wish  you  would  name  it  to  Dr. 
Warren,  or  show  him  this  letter,  and  make  my  best  respects 
to  him. 

(Signed)  H.  A.  S.  DEARBORN. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  year  1832,  Dr.  Warren's 
attendance  had  been  required  almost  daily  by  his 
mother,  who  was  now  seventy-two  years  of  age,  and 
suffering  from  severe  and  repeated  attacks,  in  which 
the  digestive  powers  were  gradually  failing  ;  the  elas 
ticity  of  her  constitution  producing  amendment  and 
partial  recovery  after  each  attack,  each  in  succession 
leaving  her  almost  imperceptibly  worse.  It  needs 
scarce  be  said,  that  Dr.  Warren  held  what  he  has 
before  alluded  to  as  rather  old-fashioned  notions  of 
respect  for  seniors  in  general,  and  for  parents  in  par 
ticular.  Mrs.  Warren  was  one  whose  dignity  and 
reserve  of  manners,  as  well  as  her  quick  perception 
of  character,  knowledge  of  the  world,  and  acquired 
information  from  books  and  persons,  commanded 
respect.  This  was  always  paid  by  her  son.  All  that 
he  could  do  for  her  relief,  he  did.  How  much  he 
felt  her  loss,  could  only  be  suspected. 

In  this  year  (1832),  Dr.  Warren  published  in  the 
"  American  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences  "  two  impor 
tant  cases,  in  which  the  accidental  admission  of  air 
into  the  veins  had  taken  place. 

Dr.  Warren  alludes  to  the  circumstance,  that  this 
accident  has  been  doubted  by  surgeons. 


1832.]  PRACTICE.  263 

He  had  recently  met  with  two  undoubted  cases, 
which  he  thinks  were  the  first  that  had  occurred 
either  in  his  own  practice  or  that  of  his  prede 
cessor. 

The  first  instance  was  in  an  operation  for  a  can 
cerous  affection  of  the  face  and  neck,  in  which  it 
was  necessary  first  to  secure  the  carotid  trunk.  "  The 
face  of  the  sheath  of  the  great  vessels  was  a  little 
uncovered,  when  a  small  effusion  of  venous  blood 
appeared  under  the  knife,  and  checked  the  operation. 
At  that  instant,  a  very  distinct  sound  was  heard,  like 
the  passage  of  air  through  water ;  a  few  bubbles  were 
seen  in  the  venous  blood,  the  flow  of  which  was 
immediately  arrested  by  applying  the  finger."  The 
symptoms  were  those  of  apoplexy.  Dr.  Warren 
directly  opened  the  temporal  artery.  He  recovered, 
and,  the  following  morning,  was  as  well  as  before  the 
operation  was  attempted. 

Seven  days  after  this,  the  operation  was  performed 
without  tying  the  carotid.  On  the  10th  December,  the 
wound  was  nearly  healed,  and  he  returned  home. 

The  second  case  occurred  in  the  removal  of  a 
tumor  of  the  breast  in  a  married  woman.  After 
nearly  separating  the  tumor,  at  the  outer  part  of  the 
axilla  a  vein  was  divided,  and  a  small  quantity  of 
venous  blood  was  discharged.  On  carrying  the  knife 
to  the  other  extremity  of  the  tumor,  she  struggled, 
became  livid,  and  a  bubbling  or  clucking  noise  was 
heard.  Directly,  the  axilla  was  compressed,  and  she 
became  insensible,  with  apoplectic  breathing. 


264  PRACTICE.  [^ET.  54. 

The  tumor  was  at  once  separated,  her  posture 
changed.  Brandy  was  poured  down,  and  ammonia 
introduced  into  the  nostrils.  Cloths  with  hot  water 
were  thrown  over  the  extremities  ;  strong  frictions 
applied  to  the  chest  and  all  parts  of  the  body.  As  a 
last  effort,  the  larynx  was  opened,  and  inflation  of 
the  lungs  by  a  bellows  put  in  operation.  These 
efforts  were  continued  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  but  with  no  effect. '  Life  was  extinct. 

Dr.  Warren  remarks  on  the  means  to  be  pursued 
in  the  occurrence  of  these  accidents :  "  First,  compress 
the  orifice  of  the  bleeding  vein  with  the  utmost  care ; 
second,  apply  pressure  on  the  veins  between  the 
wound  and  the  heart ;  third,  relax  the  part  in  which 
the  vein  is  seated ;  fourth,  the  patient  may  be  directed 
to  expire  the  air  from  his  lungs." 

The  opening  of  the  temporal  artery  gave  great 
relief  in  the  first  case.  It  was  not  resorted  to  in  the 
second,  because  the  patient  had  already  lost  as  much 
blood  as  could  be  spared.  The  other  means  to  be 
pursued  have  been  described  above. 

It  may  be  remarked,  that  this  last  case  afforded  an 
instance  of  what  has  been  stated  above  in  regard  to 
Dr.  Warren's  quickness  in  perceiving  any  change. 
Although  intently  engaged  in  a  delicate  dissection,  he 
perceived  the  first  change  of  color  in  his  patients  ; 
and  the  means  mentioned  were  resorted  to  almost 
before  the  assistants  were  aware  that  any  thing  unto 
ward  had  occurred.  This  was  always  the  case.  He 
never  allowed  himself  to  be  so  much  engrossed  in 


1832.]  PRACTICE.  265 

any  dissection,  however  difficult  or  intricate,  as  not  to 
be  constantly  alive  to  the  condition  of  his  patient. 

Although  the  subject  of  this  Memoir  had  long 
ago  given  up  night-practice,  and  consequently  mid 
wifery,  he  was  still  totally  occupied  in  active  practice 
and  operations,  and  seems  to  have  had  little  time  for 
writing.  His  only  publications  for  1833  appear  to 
have  been  the  following,  in  the  thirteenth  volume  of 
the  "  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences,"  in  which  he  has 
given  an  account  of  the  "  Removal  of  the  Clavicle  in 
a  State  of  Osteo-Sarcoma." 

The  patient  had  received  an  injury,  a  year  previous, 
in  attempting  to  roll  over  a  heavy  stick  of  timber.  It 
was  supposed  to  be  an  irreducible  dislocation.  When 
he  entered  the  hospital,  Nov.  1,  1832,  he  had  a  tumor 
measuring  seven  inches  from  the  sternal  end  of  the 
right  clavicle  to  the  scapular  end;  from  its  upper 
bound,  the  clavicle,  towards  the  nipple,  five  inches. 
It  was  hard ;  no  fluctuation ;  general  health  not  mate 
rially  impaired,  but  constitution  scrofulous  and  irri 
table. 

The  tumor  being  found  to  enlarge  after  his  en 
trance  into  the  hospital,  the  operation  was  performed 
on  the  10th.  The  outer  extremity  of  the  clavicle 
was  laid  bare,  the  coraco-clavicular  ligament  divided, 
and  the  clavicle  sawed  through  with  a  chain-saw. 
The  tumor  was  then  carefully  dissected  from  its 
attachments,  and  removed.  Little  blood  was  lost. 

The  patient's  appearance  after  the  operation  was 
good,  and  his  symptoms  were  most  favorable  up  to 

34 


266  PRACTICE.  [^Ex.  55. 

the  thirteenth  day.  He  was  able  to  sit  up,  had  appe 
tite,  and  had  every  promise  of  a  favorable  termination 
of  the  case.  The  wound  united  to  a  considerable 
extent  by  the  first  intention. 

On  the  thirteenth  day,  he  was  affected  with  chills, 
pain  in  the  epigastric  region,  and  his  pulse  rose  from 
eighty  to  a  hundred  and  twelve.  These  symptoms 
were  followed  by  a  nervous,  agitated  state,  and 
eventually  by  a  slight  delirium,  with  no  other  local 
phenomena  than  those  above  mentioned. 

His  symptoms  varied  from  this  time  to  the  8th  of 
December ;  when  he  died,  in  the  fourth  week  from 
the  operation. 

Dr.  Warren  notices,  in  conclusion,  the  bad  habit  of 
body  of  the  patient,  who  was  naturally  weak  and 
excitable ;  and,  secondly,  the  absence  of  any  local 
affection,  sufficient  to  be  a  cause  of  death. 

"  Whence,"  he  says,  "  it  may  be  inferred,  that  the 
unfavorable  issue  was  the  result  of  constitutional 
irritation,  produced  by  the  impression  of  a  severe 
operation." 

In  this  volume  of  the  "  Journal  of  the  Medical 
Sciences  "  is  also  contained  an  account  of  an  opera 
tion  for  the  remedy  of  a  natural  obstruction  or  mal 
formation,  which  was  completely  successful. 

At  this  period,  and  for  some  years  previous,  it  had 
become  the  fashion,  even  for  wealthy  families,  to  pass 
the  whole  year  in  the  city.  Horse-keeping  had 
become  expensive  from  the  increased  value  of  land, 
and  the  facility  of  locomotion  was  trifling.  The  only 


1833.]  SUMMER    EXCURSIONS.  267 

public  conveyances  were  coaches ;  and  the  Roxbury 
"  hourlies,"  as  they  were  called,  though  they  ran  only 
two  or  three  times  a  day,  were  a  new  thing.  Jamaica 
Plain  —  which  had  formerly  been  a  fashionable  resi 
dence  in  the  time  of  Dr.  Gordon,  the  American  his 
torian,  and  pastor  of  that  parish  —  was  now  almost 
deserted.  There  were  many  vacant  houses ;  and  land 
sold  only  by  forced  sales,  and  for  much  less  than  it 
had  cost  thirty  years  before.  Dr.  John  Warren,  as 
has  been  said  elsewhere,  had  purchased  a  farm  in 
Jamaica  Plain,  before  his  son  went  to  Europe,  and 
rode  out  frequently  in  his  chaise  or  carriage  during 
the  summer  afternoons.  Not  many  years  before  his 
death,  he  made  one  visit  to  Newport  with  his  family. 
They  went,  not  in  cars,  steamboats,  or  even  stages. 
The  journey  was  made  in  the  large  family  coach  em 
blazoned  with  the  family  arms,  and  driven  by  the 
family  servant,  Cuff,  whose  native  place  was  Newport. 
Cuff  has  already  been  mentioned.  His  brother  and 
predecessor,  Quaco,  a  better  servant,  was  bequeathed, 
by  the  will  of  Governor  Collins,  to  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Warren.  While  leading  a  pair  of  fine  coach-horses 
to  bathe  in  the  old  Mill  Pond  (which  was  in  that  part 
of  the  town  where  the  National  Theatre  now  stands, 
but  long  since  filled  up  and  built  over),  he  fell  from 
the  horse  he  was  riding,  received  a  kick  upon  the 
head,  and  was  drowned.  The  horses  were  also  lost. 

This  was  probably  the  only  pleasure  excursion 
which  the  senior  Dr.  Warren  made  for  years. 

Notwithstanding  the  healthiness  of  the  city,  it  natu- 


268  SUMMER    EXCURSIONS.  [l&r.  57. 


rally  followed,  that,  as  all  the  inhabitants  remained 
in  Boston,  there  was  much  sickness  during  the  sum 
mer  months  ;  and  physicians  who  practised  then,  sel 
dom  thought  of  leaving  Boston  for  a  night,  unless 
compelled  by  professional  duty. 

The  first  journey  which  Dr.  John  C.  Warren 
mentions  took  place  in  1820,  as  has  been  already 
mentioned.  In  1827,  he  made  a  visit  to  West  Point, 
Catskill,  &c.  ;  the  subsequent  years,  in  turn  to  Niaga 
ra,  Newport,  and  the  White  Mountains  in  the  spring 
or  summer  of  1833. 

In  1835,  his  son  Dr.  Mason  Warren,  having  re 
turned  from  Europe,  and  become  a  member  of  the 
Boston  Medical  Association,  was  able  to  relieve  him 
from  part  of  the  burthen  of  practice,  and  commenced 
his  own  successful  career  as  surgeon  and  physician. 
In  July  of  this  year,  he  was  therefore  enabled  to 
make  a  longer  visit  than  usual  to  the  South  ;  leaving 
his  son  to  take  charge  of  his  patients  in  his  absence, 
somewhat  in  the  same  manner  as  he  had  taken  charge 
of  his  father's  business  during  the  first  summer  after 
his  return. 

In  1836,  his  only  publication  appears  to  have  been 
an  account  of  an  aneurism  of  the  external  iliac  artery, 
in  the  fifteenth  volume  of  the  "  Boston  Medical  and 
Surgical  Journal,"  and  in  the  "American  Journal  of 
Medical  Sciences,"  nineteenth  volume. 


1835.]  REPORT    ON    SMALL-POX.  269 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

CONSULTING  PHYSICIANS.  —  SMALL-POX.  —  DR.  JACKSON.  — 
WORK  ON  TUMORS. 

THE  subject  of  sanitary  provisions,  to  prevent  the  ex 
tension  of  the  small-pox,  was  frequently  submitted  to 
the  attention  of  the  Consulting  Physicians. 

Early  in  1837,  a  communication  from  the  City 
Council  was  received,  and  called  forth  the  following 
Report :  — 

The  Consulting  Physicians  of  the  City  of  Boston  have 
been  called  upon  by  a  Committee  of  the  City  Council  to 
say,  whether,  in  their  opinion,  it  is  necessary  to  provide  a 
place  for  the  residence  of  those  who  are  affected  with  the 
small-pox  and  other  contagious  diseases  in  the  winter 
season.  Having  carefully  considered  the  subject,  they  ask 
leave  to  offer  their  opinion,  as  follows:  — 

"That  it  is  highly  necessary  to  provide  a  place  in  or 
near  the  city,  to  which  those  affected  with  small-pox  and 
other  contagious  diseases  in  the  winter  may  be  conveniently 
and  safely  removed." 

The  reasons  which  have  led  them  to  this  opinion  are  the 
following :  — 

I.  They  believe  that  cases  of  contagious  disease  may 
occur,  in  which  it  would  be  dangerous  to  life  to  remove  the 
patient  in  a  boat  or  vessel,  as  now  practised. 


270  REPORT    ON    SMALL-POX.  [.Ex.  59. 

II.  That   obstructions  in   the  harbor  may  prevent  the 
removal  of  infected  patients  so  early  after  the  appearance 
of  disease  as  to  avoid  their  communicating  it  to  others. 

III.  That  an  insular  situation  may  sometimes  prevent 
the  administration  of  those  aids  which  severe  diseases  might 
require. 

IY.  That  an  apprehension  of  being  removed  in  the 
manner  done  at  present  may  operate  as  a  temptation  to 
physicians  and  patients  to  conceal  the  existence  of  a 
contagious  disorder. 

On  the  other  part,  there  appears  to  be  no  serious  objec 
tion  to  establishing  a  place  for  persons  affected  with  conta 
gious  disorders,  in  or  near  the  city. 

All  such  diseases  emanate  their  contagious  influences  to 
a  very  limited  extent,  —  generally  not  beyond  the  air  imme 
diately  surrounding  the  affected  person. 

As  a  proof  of  this,  may  be  advanced  the  fact  of  a 
small-pox  hospital  having  existed  a  considerable  number  of 
years  within  two  miles  of  Boston,  without  having  commu 
nicated,  or  having  been  suspected  to  communicate,  the 
contagion  to  the  city. 

As  to  the  place  proper  for  such  an  establishment,  this 
Board  is  of  opinion,  that  any  place  in  or  near  the  city,  which 
can  be  as  much  insulated  as  the  State  Prison  at  Charles- 
town,  or  the  Massachusetts  General  Hospital  in  Boston, 
would  be  perfectly  safe,  if  precautions  were  taken  to 
disinfect  those  who  had  occasion  to  communicate  with  the 
establishment. 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Consulting  Physicians, 

JOHN  C.  WARREN. 

BOSTON,  Feb.  1,  1837. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  the  City  Council  again 
requested  the  opinion  of  the  Consulting  Physicians 


1837.]  REPORT    ON    SMALL-POX.  271 

with  regard  to  an  entire  change  of  policy  in  relation 
to  small-pox. 

"The  preceding  advice  for  the  re-establishment  of  a 
small-pox  hospital,"  they  say,  "  seems  to  have  been  founded 
upon  the  continuance  of  the  present  system  of  regulations. 
They  now  ask  an  opinion  as  to  the  propriety  and  policy  of 
the  system  itself,  whether  the  removal  of  those  infected  is 
deemed  necessary;  and  they  request  the  Board  to  state 
their  views  in  full  in  regard  to  the  prevention  of  the 
spreading  of  the  disease,  the  cure  of  those  infected,  and 
the  more  thorough  extension  of  vaccination." 

"  The  Consulting  Physicians,  in  reply,  state  their  sense 
of  the  great  importance  of  the  question  to  the  city  of  Bos 
ton,  and  that  they  have  given  the  affair  their  earnest  atten 
tion. 

They  state,  in  the  first  place,  "  that  the  policy  which  had 
so  long  prevailed  in  Boston,  of  removing  and  secluding 
affected  persons,  however  it  originated,  did  not  prevail  out 
of  New  England  ;  that  many  people  were  generally  exposed 
to  the  contagion  before  the  infection  could  be  discovered 
and  the  affected  person  removed. 

"  It  appears  to  them,  that,  if  no  measures  were  taken  to 
keep  the  small-pox  out  of  the  city,  all  the  inhabitants  and 
all  the  visitants  to  the  city,  not  vaccinated,  would  be  careful 
to  undergo  vaccination  before  exposing  themselves.  Vacci 
nation  would  thus  become  more  general,  and  the  food  which 
now  exists  for  supporting  the  disease  would  soon  be 
exhausted  through  the  whole  community.  The  terrors  of 
a  general  spreading  of  small-pox  would  thus  be  allayed,  and 
the  disease  would  be  regarded  with  no  more  alarm  than 
measles  and  other  contagious  and  eruptive  diseases. 

"  We  conclude,  then,  from  this  view  of  the  subject,  that, 


272  REPORT    OF    SMALL-POX.  [^ET.  59. 

if  the  old  practice  of  removal  were  abandoned,  small-pox, 
instead  of  being  more  likely  to  be  extensively  diffused, 
would  be  less  so,  from  want  of  materials  to  feed  on." 

They  then  direct  their  attention  to  the  evils  arising  from 
the  present  system,  —  "  the  extreme  hardship  of  removing 
persons  from  their  families  to  secluded  situations,  parents 
from  their  children,  husbands  from  their  wives,  and  invalids 
from  those  upon  whom  they  have  been  accustomed  to  rely ; 
the  terrors  of  such  a  removal ;  the  exposure  to  severe 
weather  during  some  seasons  of  the  year,  which  may,  in 
some  cases,  decide  the  balance  between  recovery  and  death. 
Such  a  violation  of  the  rights  of  humanity  could  only  be 
justified  by  the  necessities  of  the  public  good ;  but  no 
necessity  exists,  if  the  opinions  expressed  above  are  well 
founded." 

They  notice  other  objections.  First,  That  individuals 
who  have  been  vaccinated  have  no  opportunity  of  testing 
their  susceptibility  to  small-pox.  They  go  abroad,  and,  if 
exposed,  may  suffer  severely  from  a  disease,  which,  in  their 
own  homes,  is  of  little  importance. 

Secondly,  The  alarm  excited  once  or  twice  every  year, 
under  the  present  system.  A  case  of  small-pox  throws  a 
part  of  the  city  into  confusion ;  and  the  existence  of 
a  number  of  cases  disturbs  the  whole  city  and  country. 

Thirdly,  The  great  and  useless  expense  in  which  the 
system  then  prevailing  involved  the  whole  city. 

Further,  that  the  small-pox  is  not,  in  ordinary  seasons, 
so  contagious  a  disease  as  it  is  commonly  believed  to  be. 

That  the  practice  of  removing  from  the  city  persons 
affected  with  small-pox  should  be  discontinued  after  the 
first  day  of  March  next. 

In  the  mean  time,  they  recommend  a  general  vaccina 
tion  of  all  who  have  not  been  vaccinated,  and  that  measures 


1837.]  SMALL-POX.  273 

should  be  taken  for  the  free  vaccination  of  all  such  as  wish. 
Also  that  all  citizens,  who  have  not  full  confidence  in  having 
had  genuine  cow-pox,  should  be  revaccinated. 

Signed  by  JOHN  C.  WARREN. 

BENJAMIN  SHURTLEFF. 

GEORGE  HAYWARD. 

JOHN  RANDALL. 

GEORGE  C.  SHATTUCK. 

These  recommendations  were  adopted;  and  the 
lapse  of  twenty  years  has  proved  the  wisdom  and 
humanity  of  the  measure.  A  prominent  feature, 
which  is  well  known  to  promote  the  extension  of 
contagious  disease,  —  fear,  —  has  been  removed ; 
and  a  case  of  small-pox  now  produces  little  alarm 
in  the  city.  Thus  a  person  infected  is  less  likely  to 
have  his  case  made  worse  by  neglect  and  terror ;  and 
proper  caution  may  be  adopted  for  the  cure  of  the 
patient,  and  for  rational  measures  for  preventing  the 
extension  of  the  disease.  Formerly,  if  not  now,  in 
some  country  towns,  an  individual  infected  with 
small-pox  was  sometimes  deserted,  and  left  to  perish, 
from  neglect,  in  an  empty  tenement ;  while  those  who 
were  forcibly  removed,  between  the  agitation  and 
other  circumstances  combined,  lost  their  chance  of 
recovery. 

Many  persons,  who  would  have  shuddered  at  the 
story  of  persons  affected  with  hydrophobia  being 
smothered  between  two  beds,  —  as  was  practised  in 
some  remote  parts  of  Great  Britain,  and  perhaps  is 
still,  —  approved  of  the  forcible  removal  of  small-pox 

35 


214:  SMALL-POX.  [^Ex.  59. 

patients.  Use  or  custom  sanctions  every  abuse ;  and 
we  look  with  calmness  upon  those  which  are  sup 
posed  necessary,  merely  because  they  have  long  ex 
isted. 

It  requires  much  hardihood  and  moral  courage  to 
attack  such  abuses ;  but  they  who  do  it  are  deserving 
of  the  highest  praise.  The  abolition  of  an  oppres 
sive  law,  founded  in  ignorance  or  superstition,  never 
ceases  to  operate  for  the  comfort  and  happiness  of 
thousands.  The  panic  produced  by  contagious  dis 
eases  —  the  plague,  the  cholera,  and  here,  in  an 
especial  degree,  the  small-pox  —  gives  rise  to  general 
feelings  of  inhumanity  and  selfishness ;  and,  as  the 
disease  may  become  aggravated  by  neglect,  its  extent 
is  promoted  by  the  very  means  taken  to  avoid  it. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1837,  Dr.  Warren  communi 
cated  to  the  trustees  of  the  hospital  his  intention  of 
making  a  visit  to  Europe.  About  the  same  time,  Dr. 
Jackson  retired  from  his  office  of  Hospital  Physician. 
From  the  foundation  of  the  institution  up  to  this  time, 
he  had  been  constant  in  his  attendance  during  his 
annual  term  of  office,  even  after  his  partial  retirement 
from  business  in  1825,  when  he  went  to  Waltham, 
and  for  several  years  made  that  his  summer  residence. 
During  this  period,  his  hospital  duties  were  regularly 
discharged ;  and  he  continued  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession,  as  far  as  his  residence  in  the  country  permit 
ted.  After  a  few  years,  he  gave  up  his  summer 
residence  in  Waltham,  and  resumed  active  practice  in 
the  city,  which  he  has  since  continued. 


1837.]  DR.    JACKSON.  275 

Although  the  friendship  that  commenced  at  an 
early  period  of  life,  and  the  close  professional  inter 
course  that  ensued,  did  not  terminate  until  the  death  of 
Dr.  Warren,  who  was  attended  by  Dr.  Jackson  in  his 
last  illness,  as  he  had  been  in  all  preceding  ones, 
that  portion  of  the  Biographical  Notes  which  re 
lates  to  the  latter  may  come  in  appropriately  here,  at 
the  end  of  their  long  connection  as  physician  and 
surgeon  in  the  Massachusetts  Hospital. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

Dr.  Jackson  I  became  acquainted  with  at  college  from 
the  year  1793-6,  inclusive.  He  was  a  year  in  advance  of 
me ;  but  we  fell  into  the  same  circle  of  acquaintance,  and 
were  more  associated  together  than  members  of  the  different 
classes  usually  are  at  college. 

After  I  was  settled  in  London,  in  the  year  1799,  he  came 
there  to  prosecute  his  studies  for  the  winter,  and  associated 
with  Senter  and  myself;  so  that  we  worked  together  that 
winter.  In  the  following  summer,  having  made  a  matrimo 
nial  engagement,  and  having  at  the  same  time  the  expecta 
tion  of  being  the  first  to  carry  the  vaccine  fluid  to  America, 
he  left  us  ;  came  home,  got  his  degree,  and,  by  the  aid  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  launched  immediately  into  practice. 
His  abilities,  industry,  and  agreeable  manners,  helped  to 
establish  him  wherever  the  impulse  of  his  friends  could 
carry  him ;  and  for  a  number  of  years,  until  he  declined 
practice,  he  had  as  much  as  he  could  do,  and  became  the 
head  and  leader  of  the  profession  in  that  department.  This 
station  he  continued  to  maintain  after  he  had  partially 
retired  from  professional  business ;  and  was  well  entitled  to 
it,  not  only  by  the  extent  of  his  experience,  and  the  constant 


276  DR.    JACKSON.  [J£T.  59. 

cultivation  of  medicine  as  a  science,  but  by  his  remarka 
bly  good  judgment,  and  steady  pursuit  of  general  profes 
sional  improvement.  He  originated  many  and  was  engaged 
in  all  the  schemes  of  amelioration  and  advancement  in  the 
medical  art,  and  in  many  other  departments  of  science ; 
and  distinguished  himself  always  by  an  enlargement  of  his 
views  in  regard  to  the  new  arrangements  which  the  state  of 
the  profession  were  continually  requiring.  He  was  particu 
larly  active  in  the  foundation  of  the  Medical  School  in 
Boston,  of  the  Hospital,  the  Society  for  the  Study  of  Natu 
ral  Philosophy,  the  Athenaeum,  the  u  New-England  Journal 
of  Medicine  and  Science,"  the  new  organization  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  and  many  other  similar 
institutions.  Although  he  voluntarily  transferred  his  medi 
cal  business  at  the  middle  period  of  life,  he  is  still  resorted 
to  as  a  consulting  physician ;  and  has  continued  to  hold  the 
public  esteem,  as  well  as  that  of  his  patients,  without  dimi 
nution.  His  frankness  of  character,  as  well  as  clearness  of 
judgment,  acquired  the  confidence  of  his  professional  bre 
thren  to  an  almost  unexampled  extent.  With  a  bad  state  of 
health  at  one  period,  which  called  him  partially  to  relin 
quish  medical  practice  and  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
he  has  prolonged  his  life  and  intellectual  powers  beyond  the 
usual  period  ;  and  this  prolongation  is  attributable  not  only 
to  a  well-directed  system  of  living,  but  to  the  means  he  has 
employed  for  preserving  mental  equanimity  in  the  various 
trying  events  he  has  been  called  to  experience. 


Before  his  departure  for  Europe,  Dr.  Warren 
published  his  work  on  tumors,  —  one  of  the  largest 
surgical  books  which  he  ever  found  time  to  compile. 


1837.]  WORK    ON    TUMORS.  277 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  his  original 
intention  to  prepare  a  more  elaborate  treatise  on  this, 
and  probably  upon  other  subjects.  The  care  with 
which  he  had  preserved  the  records  of  his  hospital 
practice  (forming  six  large  folio  volumes),  in  addition 
to  the  records  of  private  practice,  seems  to  indicate 
such  a  design.  They  afforded  an  immense  mass  of 
facts  and  observations,  and  ample  materials  for  trea 
tises  upon  all  subjects  of  operative  surgery. 

But  he  found,  as  he  states  in  his  preface,  "  practical 
men,  called  as  they  are  to  every  kind  of  medical  duty, 
possessing  no  time  they  can  devote  to  study  but  what 
is  robbed  from  hours  which  the  wearied  faculties 
require  for  repose,  can  estimate  the  obstacles  to  any 
literary  labor  among  us.  Compelled  to  accomplish 
this  publication  under  an  unusual  pressure  of  affairs, 
or  to  defer  it  to  an  uncertain  period,  I  thought 
it  right  to  relinquish  the  attempt  at  an  elaborate 
and  finished  production,  to  clothe  the  facts  in  the 
best  dress  that  circumstances  permitted  me  to  give 
them,  and  to  content  myself  with  the  expectation 
that  the  errors  which  may  have  escaped  me  now 
will  be  readily  discovered  hereafter,  both  by  myself 
and  others." 

An  impartial  account  of  this  work  is  given  in  the 
"  British  and  Foreign  Medical  Review,"  the  high 
standing  of  whose  editor  —  Dr.  Forbes  —  is  well 
known  to  the  profession  in  this  country  as  well  as  in 
his  own.  The  reviewer  says,  — 


278  WORK    ON    TUMORS.  [JET.  59. 

"  Nothing  is  more  apt  to  produce  a  favorable  impression 
of  any  literary  production  than  to  find  that  the  author  has 
justly  appreciated  his  own  labors,  and  has  offered  them  to 
the  public  under  an  appropriate  title,  and  without  immode 
rate  pretensions.  A  prepossession  is  thus  created  in  favor 
of  his  good  sense,  and  the  reader  is  prepared  to  listen  with 
attention  to  one  who  is  able  to  decide  fairly  in  a  matter  in 
which  the  natural  bias  of  self-approbation  is  frequently  too 
strong  for  sober  judgment.  In  the  work  before  us,  these 
first  favorable  impressions  do  not  lead  to  disappointment. 
'  It  is  not,'  we  are  told,  '  to  be  considered  as  a  treatise 
comprehending  all  that  is  known  on  the  subject,  but  rather 
as  a  collection  of  cases  intended  to  illustrate  the  distinctions 
between  different  tumors.'  ' 

The  reviewer  goes  on  to  speak  of  the  two  different  me 
thods  of  reporting  medical  cases.  One,  formed  on  the 
model  of  the  French  school,  carried  to  the  highest  degree  of 
perfection  by  Professor  Louis,  consisting  of  the  most  minute 
particulars,  whether  connected  or  unconnected  with  the 
principal  disorder ;  the  other,  which  seems  particularly  to 
flourish  in  English  soil,  characterized  by  a  selection  of  the 
more  prominent  features  which  distinguish  the  disease,  and 
which  appear  to  afford  some  direct  clew  to  the  means  of 
palliation  or  of  cure. 

"  To  this  class  belong  the  cases  contained  in  the  present 
volume.  Clear,  simple,  and  graphic,  they  bear  the  unaf 
fected  impress  of  truth ;  and  report  with  manifest  candor 
and  honesty,  as  medical  writings  ought,  the  opinions  that 
influenced  the  treatment,  and  the  motives  that  guided  the 
surgeon  in  performing  or  abstaining  from  operations.  In 
fact,  throughout  his  work,  the  author  proves  himself  to  be  a 
worthy  disciple  of  the  school  in  which  he  received  his  early 
instructions ;  and  which,  connected  as  it  is  with  the  names 


1837.]  WORK    ON    TUMORS.  279 

and  celebrity  of  Cooper,  Bright,  and  others  of  hardly  less 
eminence,  he  seems  proud  to  acknowledge  as  his  alma 
mater.  And  surely  that  school  need  be  no  less  proud  to 
claim  him  as  a  pupil.  And  we  believe  there  are  few  mem 
bers  of  our  profession  who  are  more  entitled  to  the  consi 
deration  of  his  brethren  than  Dr.  Warren.  Distinguished 
as  a  zealous  and  successful  teacher  for  the  last  thirty  years, 
foremost  in  every  undertaking  calculated  to  improve  medi 
cal  literature  and  science,  and  never  weary  in  the  cause 
of  benevolence,  he  has  long  earned  for  himself  in  his  native 
country  a  reputation  of  the  most  enviable  kind,  and  to 
which  mere  literary  distinction,  more  especially  in  foreign 
countries,  can  add  but  little  of  value." 


280  EUROPE    IN    1837. 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 

EUROPE   IN   1837. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

MY  visit  to  Europe  in  1837-8  was  undertaken  for  the 
gratification  of  my  family.  My  son,  Dr.  Mason  Warren, 
was  able  to  take  my  place.  One  of  my  daughters  was  also 
happily  settled  ;  two  others  were  just  grown  up ;  and  my 
son  Sullivan  had  gone  through  four  years'  attendance  in 
a  counting-room.  Mrs.  Warren  had  passed  thirty  years 
of  servitude  in  bringing  up  a  family  of  six  children.  Her 
father  and  mother  were  no  longer  living,  nor  were  mine. 
My  property  had  attained  a  sufficient  growth  to  justify  me 
in  a  measure  of  the  kind.  My  business  was  rather  oppres 
sive,  and  required  to  be  diminished.  Further,  the  work  on 
tumors,  which  I  had  had  in  hand  for  two  or  three  years, 
was  so  nearly  completed,  that  I  could  hope  to  finish  it  before 
my  departure  ;  and  I  accordingly  did  finish  it,  though  not  in 
a  way  I  could  have  wished.  Its  principal  merit  was  its  being 
the  only  monograph  on  tumors ;  and  to  this  might  be  added 
the  simplicity  and  practicalness  of  its  arrangement,  begin 
ning  with  the  tumors  which  present  themselves  on  the 
outside  of  the  body,  and  tracing  them  to  the  internal  tex 
tures.  Mr.  Bureaud  Riofrey  told  me  in  1849,  that  he  saw 
the  book  when  published  in  1837,  being  in  England  at  that 
time,  and  was  agreeably  struck  with  the  plan  of  basing  its 
arrangement  on  the  textures  of  Bichat. 


1837.]  VISIT    TO    EUROPE.  281 

I  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  it  was  favorably  noticed  by 
the  principal  medical  journals  in  Great  Britain  and  Ame 
rica  ;  though  I  attributed  this  to  their  partiality,  rather  than 
to  the  merits  of  the  book.  I  have  since  made  a  very  large 
collection  of  cases  of  tumors,  which  would  constitute,  per 
haps,  one  or  two  volumes.  They  are  corrected,  and,  to  a 
certain  extent,  arranged.  I  have  always  intended,  with  the 
aid  of  these  notes,  to  make  another  edition,  with  woodcuts, 
or  something  of  that  style.  But  other  labors  have  thus  far 
interfered  with  the  execution  of  this  plan. 

My  decision  in  favor  of  going  to  Europe  was  not  made 
without  much  hesitation.  I  had  not  at  that  time  made  up 
my  mind  that  it  would  be  expedient  to  give  up  lectures.  If 
I  had  done  so,  I  should  have  remained  longer  in  Europe, 
felt  more  at  my  ease,  and  have  accomplished  more  work 
calculated  for  permanent  utility.  But  I  thought,  on  the 
contrary,  at  that  time,  that  my  duty  was,  as  I  had  already 
for  more  than  thirty  years  acted  on  the  plan  of  introducing 
foreign  improvements  into  this  country,  to  pursue  the  same 
system,  and  use  this  contemplated  voyage  principally  in 
procuring  information  which  would  be  useful  at  home,  and 
particularly  in  the  business  of  instruction.  For  this  pur 
pose,  I,  in  every  city  and  town  where  I  remained  even  but  a 
few  hours,  visited,  sometimes  with  great  labor,  the  hospitals 
and  other  public  institutions;  and  always  succeeded  in 
gathering  something  that  could  be  made  available  in  the 
prosecution  of  my  plan. 

We  sailed  from  New  York  in  the  beginning  of  June 
(12th),  1837,  in  the  ship  «  George  Washington,"  for  Li 
verpool.  The  passengers  were  in  number  about  thirty. 
Among  them  were  Mr.  Wallack,  the  actor;  Mr.  Tyrone 
Power,  comic  actor,  since  lost  in  the  "  President ;  "  Louis 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  now  President  of  the  French  Republic  ; 

36 


282  ARRIVAL    AT    LIVERPOOL.  [^Ex.  59. 

Lieutenant  Gage,  son  of  Lord,  and  grandson  of  General 
Gage,  who  fought  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill ;  and  Mr. 
Becket,  of  Philadelphia.  With  Napoleon  I  conversed  in 
French,  although  he  spoke  English  very  well.  This  was 
after  his  first  attempt  to  excite  a  revolution  in  France,  from 
which  he  had  come  to  America,  and  was  thence  returning 
to  his  mother,  who  was  quite  ill  at  Geneva.  He  conversed 
very  pleasantly  on  any  subject  proposed.  He  was  well 
versed  in  classical  literature,  and  fond  of  it ;  quite  a  pro 
ficient  in  mathematics ;  and  showed  me  a  thick  octavo 
volume  he  had  composed  on  the  science  of  artillery  and 
engineering.  He  was  versed  in  the  small  accomplishments 
which  make  a  part  of  French  education,  —  comic  acting, 
tricks  at  cards,  &c.,  —  some  of  which  were  very  remarkable. 
All  these  things  he  did  with  imperturbable  gravity ;  never 
laughing  as  if  he  enjoyed  them,  but  did  them  for  the  amuse 
ment  of  others.  He  never  talked  politics.  We  always 
used  the  title  of  Prince,  and  gave  him  a  place  next  the 
captain.  He  made  himself  very  agreeable  to  the  ladies,  and 
gave  them  small  presents  occasionally.  He  landed  at  Liver 
pool  with  us,  made  his  way  to  Geneva,  and  reached  his 
mother  two  or  three  days  before  she  expired. 

Our  ship  arrived  at  Liverpool  about  the  middle  of  July, 
after  a  thirty  days'  passage.  I  saw  there  Mr.  Gair,  banker, 
connected  with  the  Barings,  a  native  of  Boston;  my  old 
acquaintance,  Dr.  Yose,  pupil  of  Sir  Astley  Cooper ;  and  Dr. 
Reynolds,  a  chemist  and  physician,  who  invited  me  to  the 
meeting  of  the  British  Association,  in  Liverpool,  the  Sep 
tember  following. 

From  Liverpool  we  went  to  London  ;  remained  there  a  few 
weeks,  as  noted  in  my  journal,  kept  from  that  time  till  I 
arrived  home  again,  and  after  a  few  days  resumed,  and 
continued  with  slight  intermissions  to  the  present  time. 


1837.]  LIVERPOOL.  283 

Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  Europe. 

June  5,  1837.  —  Left  Boston  on  Artillery-Election  Day, 
with  some  trouble  of  mind  on  account  of  M.'s  solitary  and 
responsible  situation. 

On  reaching  New  York,  I  called  on  my  old  friend  Dr. 
Perkins,  with  whom  I  passed  some  pleasant  hours.  Dr.  Ste 
vens  took  me  to  see  a  number  of  his  patients,  and  interested 
me  much  by  his  conversation  and  scientific  views. 

June  12.  —  After  being  detained  in  New  York  a  week 
by  unfavorable  winds,  on  this  day,  in  the  afternoon,  we 
were  summoned  on  board  ship,  and  went  down  in  a  steam 
boat. 

During  the  voyage,  nothing  happened  of  much  interest. 
I  avoided  reading  and  writing  as  much  as  possible.  We 
had  a  voyage  of  thirty-one  days,  and  landed  at  Liverpool 
about  sunrise  on  the  13th  of  July.  Our  entrance  to  the 
town  was  cold  and  uncomfortable  at  this  hour ;  but  when 
we  were  safely  lodged  at  the  Adelphi  Hotel,  and  got  a  good 
breakfast,  we  were  much  revived.  One  of  our  passengers, 
a  young  lady,  at  the  moment  of  landing,  fell,  and  broke  the 
fibula,  which  1  adjusted  for  her. 

The  first  view  of  the  streets  of  Liverpool,  through  the 
dense  coal-smoke,  was  not  agreeable  ;  but  when  the  sun 
shone  out,  and  the  streets  began  to  fill  with  people  whose 
faces  seemed  as  familiar  to  me  as  those  of  Boston,  I  was  bet 
ter  pleased.  Leaving  Sullivan  to  take  care  of  my  custom 
house  entries,  —  where  we  were  fleeced,  —  the  first  busi 
ness  was  to  find  out  the  agent  of  the  Barings,  Mr.  Gair,  who 
received  me  kindly,  said  he  had  formerly  known  me,  and 
took  charge  of  my  gold,  —  about  one  thousand  sovereigns  ; 
for  the  bad  state  of  credit  at  home  and  abroad  compelled 
me  to  take  specie  at  seventeen  per  cent  advance. 


284  LIVERPOOL.  [JET.  59. 

This  being  accomplished,  I  rode  to  Mr.  Rathbone's,  two 
or  three  miles  out.  The  green  hedges,  the  verdure  of  the 
fields,  and  the  pretty  taste  of  Mr.  Rathbone's  house,  struck 
me  agreeably.  After  dinner,  I  paid  a  visit  to  Dr.  Reynolds 
for  the  purpose  of  seeing  Miss  Dix.  Dr.  Reynolds  asked 
me  to  stay  to  tea.  At  nine,  P.M.,  we  had  strong  coffee,  with 
plenty  of  rich  cream,  and  a  very  agreeable  conversation. 
I  was  quite  gratified  with  the  quiet  ease  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Reynolds.  Dr.  Reynolds  lives  in  Bedford  Street. 

July  14.  —  I  went  by  appointment  to  see  a  surgeon  called 
Mr.  Bickerstaff.  I  was  punctual,  but  was  kept  waiting 
some  time  while  he  was  seeing  patients ;  and,  when  he 
came,  he  did  not  offer  to  visit  the  person  I  had  referred  to 
him  with  me. 

Saw  Dr.  Reynolds,  who  politely  carried  me  to  the  Anato 
mical  Collection  and  Museum,  which  is  incipient.  I  visited 
a  hospital  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town ;  and,  in  the  after 
noon,  the  Infirmary.  There  was  nothing  very  interesting  in 
the  practice  of  either.  I  visited  also  the  Zoological  Garden, 
which,  though  small,  is  very  beautiful,  and  contains  many 
valuable  animals. 

Dr.  Reynolds  gave  me  an  invitation  to  the  meeting  of  the 
British  Association,  and  to  pass  the  week  at  his  house. 

July  15.  —  Met  at  the  Adelphi  my  old  friend  Mr.  Titus 
Welles,  who  embarked  on  that  day  for  America.  At  twelve, 
in  company  with  one  of  our  fellow-passengers,  we  took  the 
railroad  to  Birmingham,  about  one  hundred  miles,  and 
arrived  there  in  four  hours  by  an  admirable  conveyance. 
The  country  passed  through  on  the  route  was  very  interest 
ing.  An  old  castle  or  two,  beautiful  hedges,  and  fine  culti 
vation,  struck  us  very  delightfully.  As  we  approached 
Wolverhampton  and  Birmingham,  the  smoking  furnaces 
and  lofty  chimneys  announced  to  us  the  vast  labors  which 


1837.]  WARWICK.  285 

were  going  on.  At  Birmingham,  leaving  the  railroad,  we 
took  an  omnibus  to  town.  I  had  a  short  survey  of  the 
market-place,  one  or  two  churches,  and  some  antiquities, 
while  dinner  was  arranging.  We  had  difficulty  in  pro 
curing  a  carriage  which  would  take  five  persons  post  to 
Warwick ;  but,  at  about  six,  left  Birmingham,  and  had  a 
delightful  ride  to  Warwick,  the  ancient  gate  and  wall  of 
which  we  entered  about  ten  on  Saturday  night,  and  had  a 
nice  supper  at  a  most  comfortable,  old-fashioned  English  inn. 

July  16.  —  Rose  early  of  a  beautiful  summer  morning, 
and  rode  about  four  miles  through  the  purlieus  of  ancient 
Warwick  to  Kenilworth.  The  romantic  views  of  the  old 
castle  far  exceeded  in  their  appearance  any  notions  I  had 
formed ;  which  is  not  saying  little.  The  ancient  gate  and 
tower,  the  court,  the  ruinous  chapel  and  halls,  the  beautiful 
view,  the  desertion  of  the  place,  —  the  rooks  being  the 
only  inhabitants,  —  the  recollections  of  its  ancient  splendor, 
quite  struck  us  mute ;  and  we  passed  an  hour  or  two  in 
wandering  about,  musing  on  the  gay  scenes,  the  vices,  the 
gallantry,  which  the  old  walls  had  witnessed.  As  we  re 
turned,  we  saw  the  spot  where  Piers  Gaveston  was  beheaded  ; 
and,  having  breakfasted,  we  inquired  if  we  could  see  War 
wick  Castle.  This  was  said  to  be  difficult  on  that  day ;  but 
for  money  it  could  be  done.  In  the  mean  time,  I 'took  a 
survey  of  the  ancient  gates,  walls,  and  churches.  This  city 
has,  next  to  Chester,  the  greatest  appearance  of  antiquity 
of  any  city  in  England.  We  afterwards  visited  the  castle 
with  great  satisfaction,  and  then  went  on  to  Stratford  upon 
Avon.  Shakspeare's  house  we  visited,  of  course,  and  the 
chamber  where  he  was  born,  scratched  over  with  the  names 
of  visitors. 

Towards  evening,  we  reached  Blenheim,  and  arrived  at 
Oxford  about  dark. 


286  LONDON.  [JEn.  59. 

July  17.  —  On  the  following  day,  we  pressed  on  to  Lon 
don,  taking  a  stage-coach,  and  reached  the  great  city  about 
three.  As  we  came  within  the  ten  miles,  and  witnessed  the 
bustling  of  carriages,  the  continuous  line  of  houses,  and 
saw  the  black  smoke  rising  at  a  distance,  —  although  I  had 
been  formerly  a  resident,  I  was  in  some  measure  oppressed 
by  the  idea  of  entering  this  world  with  my  family.  As  we 
rode  by  Kensington,  we  perceived  people  running,  and  the 
Horse  Guards  parading;  and  learned  that  the  Queen  was 
returning  from  the  prorogation  of  Parliament,  which  we 
had  hoped  to  witness.  We  drove  through  Piccadilly  (which 
was  afterwards  our  residence)  without  much  noticing  things, 
as  we  were  now  anxious  to  arrange  about  lodgings,  &c. 
Our  coach  stopped  at  the  Spread  Eagle,  in  Regent  Circus, 
—  a  place  made  since  I  was  in  London,  and,  of  course,  con 
fusing  my  ideas  of  the  locality.  Finding  our  trunks  had 
arrived  safely,  we  took  a  hackney-coach,  and  drove  to  Dr. 
Boott's  to  inquire  for  the  lodgings  we  had  engaged.  He 
referred  us  to  the  Brunswick  Hotel,  in  Hanover  Square  ; 
where  we  were  civilly  received,  and  got  our  dinner  soon 
after. 

Mr.  N.  Appleton  and  family  arrived ;  and  we  agreed  to 
give  them  our  rooms  on  the  following  day,  and  obtained 
private  apartments,  which  I  preferred,  at  176,  Regent 
Street.  Parliament  being  dissolved,  lodgings  were  at  a  low 
rate.  In  the  evening,  Dr.  Boott  had  the  kindness  to  take 
me  to  the  American  minister's,  Mr.  Stevenson,  and  to  Mr. 
Bates's.  It  was  near  midnight  before  we  reached  our  hotel. 
July  18.  —  Passed  the  day  in  establishing  ourselves  in 
our  new  apartments.  They  are  very  pleasantly  situated, 
and  give  us  a  fine  view  of  what  is  going  on  ;  but  we  pay  for 
this  by  being  kept  awake  by  the  continual  roar  of  carriages 
through  the  streets. 


1837.]  WESTMINSTER    ABBEY.  287 

The  show  in  Regent  Street  is  always  fine  ;  the  shops 
opposite  magnificent,  and  brilliantly  lighted.  We  rise  at 
seven,  breakfast  at  nine,  and  dine  at  five.  Our  landlord's 
servants  bring  what  we  wish,  and  we  pay  daily.  Passed 
this  day  in  moving,  and  arranging  letters ;  this  being  the 
most  important  and  responsible  business  to  be  done.  Dr. 
Boott  had  the  kindness  to  accompany  and  introduce  me  to 
many  of  the  medical  gentlemen. 

July  19.  *  —  Called  on  Dr.  Boott  and  Mr.  Aikin,  Secre 
tary  of  the  Geological  Society,  who  asked  me  to  dine. 
Then  I  called  on  Dr.  Clark,  and  found  Mrs.  Clark  very 
polite  and  agreeable.  Called  on  Sir  Astley  Cooper;  and, 
after  waiting  some  time  among  his  patients,  saw  him,  and 
presented  my  book  to  him.  He  received  me  very  kindly, 
and  said  many  pleasant  things.  To-day  I  visited  also  Mr. 
Stanley,  who  received  me  heartily ;  Mr.  Clift,  and  many 
other  gentlemen:  among  them,  I  ought  not  to  omit  Dr. 
Bostock,  the  author  of  the  "  Physiology."  Dr.  Bostock 
also  introduced  me  to  the  Royal  Zoological  Society,  Leices 
ter  Square,  where  John  Hunter  resided,  and  where  there 
is  a  collection  of  objects  of  natural  history. 

July  20.  —  Made  my  first  visit  to  Westminster  Abbey,  of 
which  I  had  so  often  thought  and  dreamed  since  I  was  there 
thirty-five  years  ago.  My  impressions  at  the  first  moment 
were  less  vivid  than  I  had  expected,  but  gradually  rose  as  I 
contemplated  this  mighty  monument.  No  person  could 


*  MY  DEAR  SIR, —  My  old  friend  Dr.  Warren  carries  in  his 
excellent  head  all  the  knowledge  of  the  Old  and  New  World. 
I  shall  be  delighted  to  see  him. 

Yours  always, 

ASTLEY  COOPER. 

Dr.  BOOTT,  Gower  Street. 


288  GEOLOGICAL    MUSEUM.  [JET.  59. 

inform  me,  neither  could  the  books,  whether  any  part  of  the 
original  abbey  remained,  and  whether  the  buildings  we  now 
see  are  more  than  two  or  three  hundred  years  old.  Visited 
the  Royal  Academy,  where  there  is  a  large  collection  of 
modern  paintings.  Also  made  my  first  visit  to  the  Royal 
Society.  This  is  open  to  the  public  now  every  other  day. 
The  objects  it  contains  seem  infinite.  At  this  first  visit,  I 
principally  noticed  the  Guadaloupe  skeleton,  embedded  in 
rock.  The  head  is  in  a  museum  in  Charleston,  S.C.  This 
rock  is  a  stone,  I  think,  about  six  feet  high,  and  two  feet 
wide.  The  bones  stand  out  in  a  slight  relief.  The  petrifac 
tion  is  now  considered  as  comparatively  modern,  and  owing 
to  the  induration  of  the  sea-sands.  Mr.  Aikin  took  me  to 
visit  the  Geological  Museum,  in  the  Royal  Society,  at 
Somerset  House,  where  apartments  are  provided  by  Parlia 
ment  for  different  scientific  institutions.  This  collection 
contains  a  regular  series  of  mineralogical  specimens,  some 
noble  skeletons  and  casts  of  skeletons  of  Ichthyosauri  and 
other  fossil  Saurians.  They  are  mostly  found  at  Lynne 
Regis.  Mr.  Aikin  told  me  that  the  Cave  of  Kirkdale,  dis 
covered  by  Professor  Buckland,  was  now  dug  away  and 
destroyed  by  excavations  in  its  neighborhood.  The  objects 
found  there  are  many  of  them  in  the  museum  at  York. 

Dined  with  Mr.  Aikin,  an  excellent  gentleman.  Met  his 
sister,  the  authoress,  who  was  very  pleasant.  We  had  a 
good  deal  of  conversation  on  the  probable  politics  of  the 
new  Parliament.  The  Aikins  are  all  strong  reformers. 
Miss  Aikin  told  me  the  legend  of  St.  Swithen.  He  was  a 
Saxon  saint,  living  at  Winchester,  and  was  buried  in  the 
churchyard.  The  people  determined  to  give  him  interment 
in  another  church  ;  but  it  rained  every  day  for  forty  days,  so 
they  allowed  him  to  remain.  Now,  if  it  rains  on  St.  Swi- 
then's  Day,  they  say  it  will  rain  forty  days  in  succession. 


1837.]  ROYAL    COLLEGE    OF    SURGEONS.  289 

In  speaking  of  the  tithes,  they  informed  me  that  they  were 
equal  to  one-tenth  of  the  annual  income  of  the  individual. 

July  21.  —  Went  to  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  —  a 
collection  originally  made  by  John  Hunter,  purchased  by 
Parliament,  and  now  greatly  enlarged  and  beautified.  I 
carried  over  a  number  of  articles  of  natural  history  for 
them,  for  which  they  gave  me  their  valuable  catalogue. 
Mr.  Clift  informed  me  that  preparations  were  arranged  in 
six  classes,  four  of  which  were  completed :  the  rest  they 
were  at  work  upon.  He  went  into  the  account  of  Sir  E. 
Home  destroying  the  manuscripts  of  John  Hunter.  This 
is  contained  in  the  "  Parliamentary  Annals,"  which  I  pur 
chased. 

In  the  college,  I  met  Mr.  Kienann,  and  became  ac 
quainted  with  him  by  speaking  on  the  possibility  of  inject 
ing  a  coagulum  of  blood. 

July  22. —  Breakfast  with  Dr.  Holland,  at  eight  o'clock, 
in  Upper  Brooke  Street.  He  has  a  good  practice  among  the 
upper  classes ;  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  agreeably  situ 
ated.  His  family  were  in  the  country.  He  said  the  practice 
among  the  higher  classes  was  not  so  difficult  as  might  be 
thought.  They  were  polite,  did  not  detain  him  unneces 
sarily,  and  paid  handsomely.  Physicians  were  obliged  to 
administer  more  medicine  than  they  could  wish,  from  the 
habit  of  supporting  the  apothecaries.  Dr.  Clark  I  did  not 
see  till  I  had  been  some  days  in  London,  he  was  so  much 
engaged ;  but,  when  I  did  see  him,  I  was  highly  gratified 
with  his  very  kind,  plain,  and  faithful  manner.  He  spoke 
favorably  of  my  book.  Mrs.  Clark  is  a  highly  agreeable 
and  excellent  person.  Dined  with  Mr.  Stanley  to-day,  and 
had  a  great  deal  of  pleasant  conversation.  Among  other 
subjects,  temperance  was  introduced.  They  approved  of  the 
means  for  the  suppression  of  intemperance,  but  thought  they 

37 


290  WIMBLEDON. HAMPSTEAD.  [JE'r.  59. 

had  been  unskilfully  managed  in  England.  Dr.  Arnold 
remarked,  that,  if  you  wished  to  have  a  fair  view  of  London, 
you  must  rise  early,  and  you  will  find  its  atmosphere  as 
clear  as  that  of  other  cities.  He  stated  that  cholera  princi 
pally  appeared  in  the  dirty  parts  of  London  ;  that,  generally, 
the  system  of  drainage  was  so  perfect  as  to  carry  away  all 
putrefying  fluids,  but  that  there  were  exceptions. 

July  29.  —  Dine  at  Mr.  Bates's,  ten  miles  out,  at  Wim 
bledon.  Mr.  Bates  thinks  that  the  Americans  produce  less, 
in  proportion  to  the  population,  than  any  other  people. 
This  is  partly  from  the  number  of  children,  partly  from 
their  speculative  turn  of  mind.  Many  years  will  be 
required  to  pay  the  English  debt ;  and,  until  this  matter  is 
accomplished,  the  pecuniary  concerns  of  the  country  will  be 
in  confusion.  England  never  suffers  from  drought.  The 
slightest  variation  in  the  production  may  involve  the  death 
of  thousands.  Corn-laws  are  still  varying,  according  to  the 
internal  price  of  corn ;  falling  when  it  rises,  and  rising 
when  it  falls. 

July  30.  —  Dine  at  Hampstead  with  Miss  Aikin.  Good, 
simple  dinner ;  very  little  wine.  Three  brothers  and  two 
nephews.  Conversation  on  temperance.  They  object  to  one 
man's  making  a  sacrifice  to  check  the  vices  of  others  by 
example  ;  see  no  harm  in  taking  a  little  brandy.  Discus 
sion  of  Miss  Martin eau's  statements  in  regard  to  American 
ladies.  Attended  morning  service  at  the  Temple  Church. 
Saw  the  statues  of  eight  knight-templars,  placed  horizon 
tally.  Architecture  fine.  Conversed  with  the  Aikins  upon 
the  state  of  parties  in  England.  They  spoke  of  the  ten 
dency  of  the  House  of  Lords  to  strengthen  the  fetters  of 
the  people  ;  the  power  of  the  Court  to  confirm  itself.  The 
Lord-Lieutenancy  is  in  the  gift  of  the  Queen.  This  and 
the  control  of  the  work-yards  and  other  employees  give  the 


1837.]  LONDON.  291 

government  power  over  the  lords.  The  late  king  was  fluc 
tuating  in  his  opinions :  at  first  he  was  patriotic,  after 
wards  he  became  alarmed. 

Walk  through  Hampstead.  By-paths  are  numerous  in 
England,  and  cannot  be  closed  :  they  are  very  ancient. 
There  are  some  encroachments  upon  Hampstead  Heath. 
The  lord  of  the  manor  wishes  to  fence  in  the  Common ;  but 
the  people  object.  The  lord  of  the  manor  has  a  right  to 
what  is  not  owned  by  individuals,  and  he  has  a  fee  upon 
every  alienation  of  property. 

In  English  elections,  bribery  is  general.  There  are  many 
modes  of  evading  the  laws  against  it ;  as,  for  instance,  pur 
chasing  a  flower  at  ten  times  its  value. 

Birds.  —  The  thrush  is  the  most  various  in  its  notes,  which 
are  very  fine :  it  sings  on  the  wing.  Nightingales  sing  in 
the  spring  only. 

Aug.  2.  —  Met  Mr.  J.  S.  Buckingham,  M.P.  He  gave 
me  his  views  of  the  temperance  cause.  Spoke  of  the  suc 
cessful  result  of  the  comprehensive  pledge. 

Visited  the  British  Museum.  I  noticed  particularly  the 
Egyptian  antiquities  ;  the  Rosetta  Stone  ;  heads  of  Memnon, 
of  great  size,  Grecian  and  Roman ;  statue  of  Theseus.  I 
went  next  to  Long  Acre.  Saw  a  large  number  of  carriages, 
but  great  want  of  variety. 

Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Temperance  Society,  at  Aldine 
Chambers.  The  number  of  the  committee,  twelve  to  four 
teen.  Heard  an  account  of  the  differences  between  them 
and  the  total  party.  Bad  feeling;  publications  against 
each  other.  There  was  a  discussion  on  the  propriety  of 
giving  sermons.  Some  present  did  not  approve  of  it,  on 
account  of  the  difference  of  sects.  Mention  was  made  of  a 
newspaper,  and  of  "  leading  articles  "  in  such  paper.  Vari 
ous  gentlemen  promised  their  aid. 


292  MANUAL-LABOR    SCHOOL.  [^T.  59. 

Aug.  3. — Visited  Lady  Byron's  manual-labor  school. 
There  are  eighty-six  boys.  Half  the  time  is  spent  in 
study,  half  in  labor.  They  come  from  the  neighborhood. 
They  employ  seven  acres  of  land ;  possess  and  sell  the  pro 
duce.  The  cost  of  the  land  is  sixty  pounds  per  annum. 
There  are  three  such  schools  in  England.  A  spirit  of  oppo 
sition  is  excited  on  account  of  its  being  a  "  reform."  Lady 
Byron  is  a  phrenologist. 


1837.]  CHURCHES.  293 


CHAPTER     XIX. 

EUROPE  IN   1837. 


JOURNAL. 

Aug.  6,  Sunday.  —  Visited  Westminster  Abbey.  The 
service  was  chanted,  except  the  lessons,  a  few  prayers,  and 
the  sermon.  The  effect  of  the  chants  in  the  high  and  long 
aisles  was  sublime.  The  music  was  by  boys,  with  some 
men.  Communion.  Sermon  on  the  imitation  of  Christ's 
example. 

In  the  afternoon,  went  to  St.  Paul's.  Seats  were  readily 
obtained  in  the  high  stalls.  The  service  was  chanted  in  the 
music  of  Handel ;  rather  long.  The  church  was  cold  ;  and 
the  noise  of  people  walking  in  the  great  rotunda  inter 
feres  with  the  service.  The  sermon  was  on  the  miracle  of 
Peter  healing  the  man  lame  from  birth.  The  effect  of  the 
music,  and  especially  the  organ,  was  grand  in  the  vast 
aisles. 

In  the  evening,  went  to  Archbishop  T n's  chapel,  in 

Regent  Street.  The  service  is  much  like  ours.  Two 
metrical  psalms.  The  music  simple  and  interesting.  Ser 
mon  on  the  difference  of  worldly  and  godly  sorrow. 

The  churches  of  London  are  well  filled  on  Sunday.  The 
streets,  some  crowded  with  poor  people  amusing  themselves, 
and  others  empty  and  quiet.  The  cathedrals  and  churches 
are  very  imposing  on  this  day. 

Aug.  8.  —  Went  to  Twickenham,  twelve  miles  from  Lon 
don, —  Pope's  residence  and  burial-place. 


294  LONDON.  [JEn.  59. 

Visited  Hampton  Court,  the  residence  of  Henry  VIII., 
built  by  Wolsey.  The  cartoons  of  Raphael  are  there  still. 
There  are  a  multitude  of  pictures  and  rooms.  The  gardens 
and  water-pieces  are  splendid. 

Aug.  9.  —  Visited  St.  Bartholomew's  with  Mr.  Law 
rence.  Remarks  on  the  modes  of  living  of  medical  men  in 
London.  The  dinner  hour  is  uncertain.  There  are  no 
visits  or  professional  engagements  in  the  evenings,  but 
numerous  societies.  The  laborious  part  of  the  profession  is 
carried  on  by  general  practitioners.  The  others  visit  every 
few  days  in  consultation. 

Visited  the  College  of  Surgeons.  Curator's  meeting. 
There  are  two  libraries  ;  one  relating  to  the  Museum.  Saw 
the  picture  of  Henry  VIII.  granting  a  charter  to  surgeons, 
independent  of  barbers.  The  barbers  continued  to  hold  the 
hall. 

More  patients  are  treated  at  home  than  abroad  by  London 
practitioners. 

Dined  at  Dr.  Clark's.  The  conversation  was  on  the  habits 
of  medical  men  and  their  education  in  this  country.  Phy 
sicians  are  generally  of  respectable  origin.  The  expense  of 
education  prevents  there  being  too  many.  The  standing 
of  the  profession  in  this  country  is  not  as  high  as  law.  Mr. 
Key  complained  of  their  being  unable  to  attain  the  highest 
honors.  Lawyers  have  precedence.  Medicine  is  a  domestic 
profession.  Dr.  Bright's  work  was  discontinued  on  account 
of  the  expense.  Dr.  Clark  gave  me  a  letter  for  Scotland. 

MY  DEAR  SIR,  —  I  enclose  a  note  of  introduction  to  Sir 
Charles  Bell ;  which  you  may  retain,  if  you  think  it  will  be 
useful  to  you :  but  I  apprehend  you  will  have  no  difficulty 
in  making  your  way  wherever  you  desire.  Of  course,  you 
know  the  medical  people  in  Edinburgh  whom  it  is  desirable 


1837.]  LETTER    FROM    DR.    CLARK.  295 

that  you  should  see  and  know,  —  Dr.  John  Thomson,  and 
his  sons  also,  Dr.  William  and  Dr.  Allan  Thomson,  Dr. 
Alison,  Dr.  Abercrombie.  There  is  also  a  physician,  less 
generally  known  perhaps,  but  not  less  deserving,  than  many 
who  have  a  higher  name.  I  allude  to  Dr.  Andrew  Combe, 
author  of  several  popular  works,  more  especially  the  "  Prin 
ciples  of  Physiology  applied  to  the  Preservation  of  Health," 
&c.,  and  the  "  Physiology  of  Digestion."  Dr.  Combe  is  a  very 
amiable  and  most  intelligent  man ;  and  I  think  you  should, 
by  all  means,  see  him.  He  is  the  brother  of  Mr.  Combe 
the  phrenologist.  I  will  enclose  a  note  to  him.  He  and 
Sir  Charles  Bell,  and  Sir  George  Bellinghall,  whom  you  met 
here,  I  think,  will  put  you  in  the  way  of  seeing  all  that 
deserves  being  seen  in  Edinburgh.  You  will  also  find  the 
young  Thomsons  very  intelligent ;  and  the  old  doctor  will 
introduce  you  to  Professor  Jeffrey,  Professor  of  Anatomy  in 
Glasgow  ;  and  you  may  have  any  notes  from  Edinburgh  you 
please.  Dr.  William  Hunter's  museum,  at  Glasgow,  you 
will  of  course  see.  If  at  any  loss  in  Dublin,  use  my  name 
to  Dr.  Maule  and  Dr.  Graves.  At  Manchester,  see  its  hos 
pital  ;  and  see  Dr.  Bardsley  also,  by  my  desire.  You  will 
meet  Dr.  Paget,  I  doubt  not,  and  Dr.  Arnold,  at  Liverpool ; 
and  they  will  do  the  needful  for  you  there.  But  your  own 
name  will  be  a  passport  for  you  everywhere.  I  hope  you 
saw  Dr.  Haviland  at  Cambridge.  I  am  now  sorry  that  I 
did  not  ask  you  to  explain  more  fully  to  me  your  route,  as 
I  might  have  given  you  some  hints.  But  I  doubt  not  you 
will  make  out  very  well ;  and  we  can  go,  over  the  ground 
again  when  I  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  on  your 
return. 

I  beg  my  best  regards  to  the  ladies  and  your  son ;  and 
am,  doctor,  very  truly  yours, 

JAS.  CLARK. 

LONDON,  Aug.  18,  1837. 


296  EDINBURGH.  [J&T.  59. 

Aug.  13.  —  Eide  to  Mr.  Lawrence's  country-seat ;  the 
weather  beautiful,  sun  clear  and  bright,  and  the  air 
refreshing.  No  dust,  and  thermometer  at  seventy-five 
degrees. 

Aug.  16.  —  Leave  London  at  half-past  nine,  A.M.  The 
country  was  beautiful,  and  ride  altogether  delightful.  A 
strong  impression  made  by  the  beauty  of  the  grounds,  and 
the  interest  of  the  buildings  in  Cambridge. 

Aug.  24.  —  Torsonce  to  Edinburgh,  twenty-five  miles. 
The  road  is  very  pleasant,  and  country  fertile.  There  are 
many  handsome  seats.  At  ten  miles  from  Edinburgh  is  the 
first  appearance  of  Arthur's  Seat.  The  entrance  to  the  town 
is  much  improved.  The  new  town  is  greatly  enlarged. 
The  effect  on  a  stranger  of  the  wide  streets  and  elegant 
public  buildings  is  striking,  —  Prince  Street  and  the  Castle, 
St.  Andrew's  Square,  and  gardens  north  of  Queen  Street. 
"We  took  lodgings  at  Simpson's,  in  Queen  Street.  Visited 
Sir  George  Ballinghall,  and  dined  with  him.  Discussed  the 
character  of  Dr.  Gregory.  He  was  learned  and  talented. 
His  influence  was  commanding.  He  died  at  about  sixty- 
five.  He  wrote  the  "  Conspectus,"  but  nothing  after. 
Mentioned  his  military  propensity.  Spoke  of  Drs.  Duncan, 
both  remarkable  for  industry.  The  father  lived  to  more 
than  eighty.  On  the  1st  of  May,  he  went  to  the  top  of 
Arthur's  Seat,  and  had  a  dinner-party.  On  the  last  anni 
versary,  was  prevented :  he  was  taken  sick,  and  died  soon 
after.  The  son  was  naturally  unhealthy,  subject  to  fe 
ver,  &c. :  he  died  comparatively  young ;  say,  at  fifty-five. 
They  wrote  medical  commentaries,  annals  of  medicine ; 
finally  edited  the  "  Edinburgh  Medical  Review,"  which  was 
profitable.  This  is  now  carried  on  by  Dr.  Craigie.  Dr. 
Hamilton  has  lately  published,  and  is  continuing,  his  pub 
lication  on  midwifery.  It  excites  some  controversy.  A 
gentleman  in  Dublin  disputes  the  priority  of  his  claims  to 


1837.]  EDINBURGH.  297 

some  remarks  considered  original  by  Dr.  Hamilton.  Dr. 
Hamilton  objects  to  the  use  of  ergot  and  of  bleeding. 

Dr.  Barclay,  the  writer  on  anatomy,  is  highly  esteemed. 
Sir  George  B.  sent  him  the  skeleton  of  an  elephant  from 
India.  Afterwards  a  caricature  was  got  up,  representing 
Dr.  Barclay  riding  into  the  college-gate  on  the  skeleton  of 
an  elephant.  Dr.  Hope,  with  a  rope  fastened  to  a  piece 
of  strontium  which  he  discovered,  was  trying  to  prevent 
his  entrance.  Gregory  was  slapping  the  elephant's  back, 
and  encouraging  him  to  proceed.  Barclay,  hearing  of  the 

caricature,  went  to  see  ,  who  was  at  work  on  it,  with 

Sir  G.  B.,  Barclay  intending  to  remain  unknown.  The 
workman  readily  introduced  and  showed  him  to  another 
room,  where  a  gentleman  was  sitting  who  knew  Dr.  Bar 
clay:  he  immediately  called  him  by  name,  to  the  great 
surprise  of  the  artist.  Dr.  Barclay,  however,  told  him  to 
proceed  with  his  work,  and  he  would  sit  for  his  likeness  if 
desired.  This  put  them  all  in  good  humor. 

Dr.  Barclay  used  to  say,  in  speaking  of  relative  position 
in  the  body,  that  the  points  of  compass  would  not  apply  to 
a  man :  the  north-west  corner  of  a  man's  neck  would  be 
rather  indefinite.  Remark  on  making  a  book.  A  prac 
titioner  in  full  practice,  being  asked  why  he  did  not  make  a 
book,  replied,  he  did  not  wish  the  world  to  know  what  a  fool 
he  was. 

Sept.  4.  —  Steamer  on  the  Forth.  Splendid  views,  seats, 
castles,  country-seats,  Stirling  Castle.  Evening,  ascended 
to  Stirling  Castle,  Douglas  Tower,  &c. ;  and  Bannockburn. 

Sept.  6.  —  Beautiful  ride  to  Callander.  Ride  to  Tro- 
sachs,  Loch  Katrine. 

Sept.  7.  —  From  Trosachs  to  Callander  ;  from  Callander 
to  Glasgow ;  beautiful  and  sublime  prospects.  Late  arrival 
at  Glasgow. 

38 


298  CHESTER.  [JET.  59. 

Sept.  8.  —  University  of  Glasgow  ;  cathedral ;  John 
Knox's  Monument.  Fever  Hospital,  one  hundred  patients ; 
average  duration,  three  weeks  ;  head  affected,  treatment 
mild,  no  bleeding ;  contagious ;  thirty  nurses  affected  last 
year.  Eye  Infirmary. 

Embarkation  in  "  Unicorn."     Sailed  down  the  Clyde. 

Sept.  8.  —  Voyage  in  Irish  Channel.  Arrived  at  Liver 
pool.  City  appears  clean,  and  nice  coaches.  Adelphi ; 
Miss  Eaton's,  7,  Perry  Street. 

Sept.  21.  —  Leave  Liverpool.  Cross  the  Mersey  to 
Woodside  in  a  steamboat.  We  had  a  pleasant  ride,  with 
fine  sunshine,  to  Chester.  Ancient  gates,  walls,  and  St. 
Mary's  Church.  We  walked  round  the  walls,  and  remarked 
the  postern  gate  and  tower,  the  piazzas,  with  shops  two 
stories :  queer  way,  this  construction.  The  pavement  is 
bad.  There  are  some  manufactures.  The  castle  was 
founded  by  William  I.  There  is  a  fine  view  from  the 
Parade  Ground.  The  cathedral  is  very  fine  and  ancient. 
The  Abbey  of  St.  Werburgh  is  connected  with  it.  The 
cloisters  of  the  abbey  are  very  perfect,  and  form  three  sides 
of  a  quadrangle.  There  are  also  many  other  remains  of 
interest.  When  the  cathedral  was  attacked,  the  nuns 
retreated  to  St.  Mary's  Church  by  a  subterraneous  passage, 
which  still  exists,  though  dilapidated. 

Sept.  22.  —  Chester.  Old  bridge,  with  five  arches,  each 
of  different  form.  St.  John's  Church,  founded  by  Ethel- 
red  :  its  records  are  twelve  hundred  years  old.  The 
tower  is  very  large,  and  somewhat  ruined  ;  partly  discon 
nected  from  church,  which  is  crumbling  in  the  outer  sur 
face.  Behind  it  is  an  extensive  and  beautiful  ruin,  with 
splendid  Gothic  windows  in  a  ruinous  state.  The  architect 
ure  is  Saxo-Gothic,  —  rounded  pillars  and  Roman  arches  ; 
two  ranges  of  Gothic  galleries  in  the  walls  ;  the  whole  most 


1837.]  LLANGOLLE^.  299 

picturesque.  The  Roman  bath  consists  of  a  room  eight 
feet  by  twelve,  with  a  reservoir  five  feet  deep.  Connected 
with  it  is  a  sudatorium,  two  feet  ten  inches  high,  with  ten 
or  twelve  short  columns  ;  room  six  or  eight  feet  square.  A 
passage  leads  from  it  subterraneously  to  the  cathedral. 

There  are  various  ancient  houses,  with  carved  work  and 
inscriptions.  The  piazzas  are  quite  curious.  The  walls 
entirely  surround  the  town,  and  have  a  foot-walk,  which  is 
agreeable,  and  much  resorted  to.  On  the  wall  stands  a 
tower,  stated  as  the  place  from  which  Charles  I.  saw  his 
army  in  Rowton  Moor  defeated.  The  town  is  most  ancient 
and  interesting. 

Two  miles  from  Chester,  we  entered  the  grounds  of  Eaton 
Hall,  belonging  to  the  Marquis  of  Westminster,  and  rode 
through  them,  —  seven  miles.  The  palace  is  a  fine  modern 
Gothic.  Wrexham  Church  has  a  fine  tower.  Rode  four  or 
five  miles  through  the  grounds  of  Sir  W.  W.  Wynne. 
Crossed  by  the  ancient  Welsh  fortification,  —  Wattsney,  or 
Wynnestney.  Near  this  is  a  valley  full  of  iron-works  ;  coal 
and  iron  both  being  found.  Here  is  the  famous  viaduct, 
the  highest  in  the  world,  being  three  hundred  feet  high.  It 
carries  a  canal  over  the  Dee,  and  presents  a  wonderful 
monument  of  art.  Also  a  fine  view  of  the  rapid  Dee. 

A  ride  of  thirty  miles  from  Chester  brought  us  to  the 
celebrated  Llangollen,  in  a  romantic  valley  on  the  Dee. 
Visited  the  Abbey  of  Valle  Crucis  by  a  walk  of  a  mile  and 
a  half.  It  is  beautifully  placed  near  the  Dee,  with  a  splen 
did  artificial  waterfall  and  fountain  pouring  into  it  from  the 
mountain.  The  abbey  is  ancient,  and  quite  ruinous.  Near 
it  is  the  famous  pillar  erected  by  Concenn  to  his  ancestor 
Elliseg,  killed  in  607  whilst  fighting  against  the  Saxons. 
The  monument  is  a  stone  column,  with  an  ancient  Welsh 
inscription.  It  is  peculiar  and  imposing.  In  view  of  our 


300  CONWAY.  [,ET.  59. 

hotel  was  Dinas  Bran,  —  an  ancient  Welsh  castle,  formerly 
very  strong.  It  was  given  by  Edward  I.  to  John,  Earl 
Warren. 

Sept.  23. —  Attempted  to  ascend  Dinas  Bran;  but,  af 
ter  going  up  alone  two-thirds  of  the  way,  the  severity  and 
coldness  of  the  wind  compelled  me  to  return.  A  noble 
prospect  of  Llangollen  could  be  seen  in  the  distance. 

Left  L.  at  half-past  nine,  A.M.  Romantic  scenery  along 
the  vale  to  Corwen  Church  at  Corwen,  with  a  perpendicu^ 
lar  column  in  the  yard,  called  the  Sword  of  Owen  Glen- 
dower.  His  cross  is  on  it.  We  saw  a  private. door  by 
which  he  entered,  and  passed  a  grove  in  which  stood  his 
palace.  There  is  a  splendid  road,  called  the  "  Parliament 
ary,"  extending  from  London  to  Holyhead ;  smooth  as  a 
floor,  walled,  and  generally  a  footway.  Welsh  postilions 
are  not  so  rapid  as  English.  We  pay  one  shilling  and  six 
pence  per  mile,  and  threepence  per  mile  to  postilions, 
beside  numerous  tolls.  Beautiful  cascades  and  waterfalls 
were  seen  all  along  the  road.  Noticed  the  poverty  of  the 
Welsh.  Many  beggars  along  the  road.  The  cottages  were 
mostly  poor,  and  the  people  ill  dressed.  The  country  was 
beautiful,  and  presented  a  mountainous  appearance,  with 
Snowdon  in  the  distance ;  although  our  road  was  scarcely 
hilly.  There  is  an  ancient  church  at  Llanverdgst,  contain 
ing  the  coffin  of  Prince  Llewellyn ;  also  stone  effigies  of  an 
ancient  knight.  The  churchyard  was  in  a  romantic  situa 
tion,  and  planted  with  yew-trees.  Reach  Conway  at  half- 
past  five,  and  visit  the  castle,  which  is  one  of  the  finest 
ruins  we  have  seen,  it  having  eight  towers  and  three  courts. 
The  town  is  walled,  with  towers  and  gates.  There  are  fine 
views  all  around. 

Sept.  24.  —  Morning  walk  among  the  towers  and  walls 
of  Conway.  All  was  stillness  and  repose ;  no  noise  but 


1837.]  DUBLIN.  301 

the  singing  of  birds,  and  the  cawing  of  the  rooks  upon  the 
high  towers  of  the  castle.  This  place  is  said  to  have  given 
rise  to  the  romance  of  the  "  Castle  Spectre."  Here  is  also 
an  ancient  church  and  churchyard,  and  an  old  palace,  now 
opposite  the  hotel,  with  rude  figures,  &Q.  Leave  Conway, 
and  ride  under  Penmaen  Mawr.  The  road  is  excavated  from 
the  cliffs  along  the  edge  of  a  perpendicular,  frightful  preci 
pice.  There  is  a  romantic  road  along  the  seacoast  to 
Penrhyn  Castle,  and  a  grand  hotel.  At  Bangor,  a  cathedral 
and  a  magnificent  iron  suspension  bridge.  Passed  through 
Anglesea  and  Mona.  There  is  great  uniformity  in  the 
scenery  of  the  latter  place.  Reach  Holy  head  and  Bay 
Mountain.  Embarked  at  eleven,  P.M.,  and  passed  a  horrid 
night  in  the  steamboat.  Only  eight  passengers,  and  no 
sheets.  Reach  Dublin  at  five,  A.M.,  and  Morrison's  at  half- 
past  six. 

Sept.  25.  —  Sally  out  to  find  Dr.  Breen.  He  looks 
well,  and  retains  his  early  appearance.  Saw  Dr.  Carmi- 
chael,  Mr.  Colles,  Dr.  Marsh,  Dr.  Graves,  and  Dr.  Snead. 
Visit  the  Zoological  Garden.  Noticed  ladies  riding  in  Irish, 
jaunting-cars,  sitting  with  their  backs  to  the  driver.  A 
pyramid  in  honor  of  Wellington  is  erected  in  their  fine 
Park.  The  streets  are  handsome,  and  the  barracks  quarter 
large  bodies  of  troops.  The  Roman-Catholic  churches  are 
not  prominent.  There  are  plenty  of  ragged  and  dirty 
children  and  beggars. 

Sept.  27.  —  Surgeon  Brophy.  Candid  and  hospitable 
reception.  Seventy  patients  in  one  day  sometimes.  Mode  of 
making  artificial  set  of  teeth,  —  first,  cast ;  second,  block  of 
metal  like  cast ;  third,  plate  of  gold  rolled  out  with  frequent 
rollings  ;  fourth,  beaten  on  metal  mould  to  its  shape.  In 
terested  in  America.  .  .  . 

Dr.  Graves  examines  the  patients  carefully  ;  announces 


302  DUBLIN.  [J&r.  59. 

his  opinion  as  to  diagnosis,  prognosis,  and  treatment,  in 
a  loud  voice,  so  that  all  hear ;  discusses  various  points 
with  students ;  controverts,  and  is  controverted.  He  con 
ducts  the  "  Dublin  Medical  Journal,"  has  taken  a  principal 
part  in  the  Dublin-Hospital  Eeports,  and  his  lectures  are 
published  in  the  "  London  Medical  Gazette."  He  has 
considerable  private  business.  I  was  introduced  to  a 
surgeon  in  the  same  hospital  (Meath),  and  visited  some 
patients  with  him,  but  could  get  no  information,  in  con 
sequence  of  the  low  tone  in  which  he  spoke  ;  and,  being 
much  fatigued  with  these  long  visits  before  breakfast,  I 
went  home,  and  breakfasted  at  half-past  ten.  At  twelve, 
I  met  Mr.  Dillon  at  Surgeons'  Hall.  This  is  a  fine  edifice, 
built  by  government  for  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  in  St. 
Stephen's  Green.  The  curator  is  Dr.  Houston.  Mr.  Dillon 
showed  me  the  college.  There  are  two  porters,  a  large 
library  and  reading-room,  a  very  large  hall  for  the  meetings 
of  the  college,  a  collection  of  anatomy  belonging  to  the 
College  of  Morbid  Anatomy,  and  one  or  two  smaller  col 
lections  for  the  use  of  the  lecturers.  There  are  a  num 
ber  of  small  lecture-rooms,  and  a  very  large  dissecting-room, 
which  has  sometimes  two  hundred  dissectors.  Subjects  are 
plentiful.  The  preparations  are  arranged  in  galleries. 
One  room  is  too  dark ;  in  another,  the  shelves  are  too  high. 
They  are  ornamented  with  heads  of  distinguished  men  and 
benefactors.  The  preparations  are  well  put  up,  and  very 
interesting. 

Yisit  Cathedral  of  Christ  Church,  and  Monument  of 
Strongbow,  Earl  of  Strigul,  first  Governor  of  Ireland. 
Hear  evening  cathedral  service.  Dine  at  Dr.  Breen's  at 
half-past  six.  Conversed  upon  his  practice,  religion,  views 
of  his  friends  with  regard  to  the  United  States,  &c. 

Visited  Trinity  College,  and  Hall  of  Examination.     Saw 


1837.]  DUBLIN.  303 

the  organ  taken  by  Queen  Elizabeth  from  the  Spanish 
Armada ;  also  Trinity  Chapel,  kitchen,  library,  and  mu 
seum.  Dr.  Macartney's  collection  has  been  sold  to  Cam 
bridge.  Some  preparations  remain,  —  Clark's  ossified  ske 
leton  ;  Irish  giant,  eight  to  nine  feet.  There  is  a  fine 
dissecting-room.  Dr.  Graves  remarks,  that  a  region  in  the 
west  of  Ireland  —  Joice,  in  Galway —  produces  the  largest 
race  of  men.  Those  around  are  small.  A  mixture  of 
Saxon  and  Celtic  blood  produces  the  best  breed  here.  A 
mixture  of  Norman  and  Saxon  constitutes  the  excellence  of 
the  English  breed. 

Trinity  College  is  a  university ;  has  fifteen  hundred 
students,  in  four  classes.  Medical  candidates  take  the  de 
gree  of  M.B. ;  and,  after  -  years,  that  of  M.D.  Of  course, 
many  go  to  Edinburgh.  There  is  a  regular  series  of  lec 
tures  on  medicine,  which  those  must  attend  who  wish  to 
graduate.  A  larger  part  go  to  the  College  of  Surgeons ; 
which  is  the  best  school,  but  cannot  confer  degrees. 

Sept.  29.  —  I  visited  the  Dublin  Society.  Saw  some 
curious  drawings  of  the  arts,  manufactures,  amusements, 
and  arms  of  the  ancient  Egyptians ;  showing  a  great  simila 
rity  to  those  of  the*present  day.  Birds,  beasts,  &c.,  bearing 
a  similarity  to  those  of  the  present  day,  but  of  different 
colors. 

The  Dublin  Society's  institution  is  on  the  plan  of  the 
British  Museum,  but,  of  course,  smaller.  There  is  a  good 
fossil  Irish  elk,  a  good  collection  of  minerals,  some  casts, 
and  some  fine  relics  from  Pompeii  and  Herculaneum.  It  is 
open  to  everybody  on  Tuesday  and  Friday,  and  resorted  to 
by  every  class  in  numbers.  Saw  an  Irish  mummy,  found  in 
the  bog.  Heard  Dr.  Schoolbeg's  account  of  the  mode  of 
flattening  the  skull  by  the  North-American  Indians. 

Dr. stated  that  Dupuytren  falsified  his  hospital  re- 


304  DUBLIN. 


ports,  so  as  to  give  an  idea  of  more  success  than  he  actually 
met  with  ;  and  that  this  explained  the  difference  in  the 
results  of  his  and  Roux's  operations.  The  former,  Dupuy- 
tren,  sometimes  discharged  patients  from  the  hospital  in  a 
dying  state,  and  reported  them  cured.  Dupuytren  always 
treated  English  surgeons  with  great  rudeness.  Dr.  - 
mentioned  this  in  connection  with  another  fact,  that  the 
French  reports  are  incorrect,  yet  attract  more  attention 
than  those  from  Dublin.  Dr.  Jacob,  he  said,  had  published 
many  things  of  merit,  which  had  attracted  but  little  atten 
tion. 

Passed  the  evening  at  Mr.  Surgeon  Brophy's.  Met  with 
Sir  James  Murray  and  Dr,  Lummis.  Dr.  Lummis  has 
quitted  medicine,  and  devotes  his  time  to  natural  and 
experimental  philosophy.  He  lectures  to  teachers  and  scho 
lars.  They  say  that  medical  men  here  are  not  acquainted 
with  this  science.  Some  of  them  do  not  understand  the 
principle  of  the  cupping-glass.  The  schools  are  endow 
ments  ;  but  the  private  or  voluntary  schools  are  acquiring  a 
superiority  over  the  others. 

Sir  James  gave  an  account  of  his  application  for  the  air- 
pump  and  other  purposes,  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  grind 
ing  surfaces  to  the  greatest  possible  smoothness.  It  consists 
of  about  three  parts  of  molasses,  with  one  of  glue,  boiled 
together.  This  produces  a  composition,  which,  being  poured 
at  an  elevated  temperature  in  a  groove,  will  receive  a  glass, 
without  soiling  it,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  exclude  air.  Dr. 
Lummis  thought  it  a  great  improvement,  and  proposed  to 
apply  it  to  an  air-pump  composed  of  a  single  barrel.  Dr. 
Lummis  gave  an  account  of  the  first  steam-engine,  four 
hundred  years  before  Christ,  —  a  perpendicular  tube  con 
nected  with  four  horizontal  tubes,  each  having  a  hollow 
sphere,  with  an  aperture  at  the  extremity.  Steam,  passed 


1837.]  DUBLIN.  305 

through  this,  caused  powerful  revolutions.     Mr.  A  very,  of 
the  United  States,  is  applying  this  to  modern  apparatus. 

Oct.  1,  Sunday.  —  I  was  invited  to  breakfast  with  Dr. 
Marsh,  in  the  country ;  but  declined,  from  apprehension  of 
its  interference  with  church. 

I  have  now  been  nearly  a  week  in  Dublin,  and  received 
great  kindness,  though  families  are  mostly  in  the  country. 
The  Dublin  medical  men  are  certainly  more  frank  than 
any,  though  I  cannot  say  I  have  experienced  more  hospi 
tality  here  than  in  Edinburgh.  The  institutions  of  a 
hospital  kind  are  more  numerous  than  at  Edinburgh.  In 
the  latter,  I  saw  only  the  Infirmary  as  a  school  of  practice. 
In  Dublin  there  are  the  Richmond,  Meath,  Stevens's,  Dunn's 
Lying-in.  In  three  of  these  I  found  large  numbers  of  pu 
pils,  who  were  particularly  civil.  At  the  Richmond  there  is 
a  good  collection  of  anatomy ;  the  only  one  of  any  conse 
quence  I  have  seen,  except  that  at  the  College  of  Surgeons. 
The  hospitals  here  are  not  elegant,  spacious,  nor  showy ; 
but  are,  substantially,  good  practical  schools.  The  town  is 
handsome,  full  of  bustle,  clean,  and  has  the  advantage  of 
the  quays  on  the  river,  which  add  much  to  its  beauty.  The 
streets  are  filled  with  poor,  ragged  people,  many  of  whom 
beg ;  but  the  principal  part  do  not.  As  far  as  I  can  judge, 
articles  of  clothing  and  food  are  cheaper  here  than  in  Eng 
land,  —  fruit  especially.  I  have  not  found  such  a  dispo 
sition  to  wine-drinking  as  I  expected.  The  poor  drink 
whiskey,  and  suffer  dreadfully  from  it. 

Oct.  2,  Sunday.  —  Visited  the  Catholic  Metropolitan 
Church  with  Dr.  Breen's  family.  The  service  was,  on  the 
whole,  impressive ;  though  I  could  not  understand  it  all. 
The  sermon  was  delivered  memoriter,  with  uncommon  ges 
ticulation  and  considerable  eloquence.  It  was  upon  Faith, 
which  he  considered  a  necessary  abandonment  of  reason  to 

39 


306  LONDON.  E^ET.  59. 


the  decrees  of  the  Most  High.  The  church  was  handsome 
and  full.  There  are  no  special  seats  :  you  sit  and  kneel  on 
boards. 

In  the  afternoon,  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral.  Very  ancient, 
containing  some  monuments  of  many  hundred  years  old. 
The  effigy  of  St.  Patrick  is  there.  The  service  was  cathe 
dral  ;  music,  fine.  A  sermon,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Marks,  on 
Prayer. 

In  the  evening,  service  in  Dawson  Street,  like  ours. 

Sunday  is  less  quiet  in  Dublin  than  in  the  English  towns. 
Fruits  are  sold  in  the  streets,  and  cried.  Provisions  are 
exposed  for  sale,  and  there  is  much  noise  from  talking  and 
shouting. 

Left  Dublin  upon  the  4th  of  October  for  Waterford. 

Oct.  7.  —  At  eight,  A.M.,  took  the  steamboat  from  Water- 
ford  to  Bristol.  About  ten,  the  following  morning,  we 
entered  the  Avon,  and  had  a  beautiful  sail  up  this  river, 
by  Clifton  Hot  Wells,  where  we  disembarked,  and  drove  to 
the  "  White  Lion,"  at  Bristol,  about  a  mile. 

Oct.  13.  —  We  once  more  entered  the  great  metropolis, 
at  about  two  o'clock,  after  an  absence  of  two  months  short 
of  a  day  or  two. 

Oct.  16.  —  Walked  in  the  evening  to  Dr.  Boott's  (a  mile), 
and  back  again.  Dr  Boott  is  a  delightful  person,  from  his 
great  knowledge  and  enthusiasm.  He  wishes  me  to  stay 
long  enough  in  London  to  know  the  immense  treasures  of 
science  which  are  locked  up  there.  "  The  door,"  he  says, 
"  is  open  to  you.  You  have  advantages  for  going  every 
where,  possessed  by  no  native."  And  he  mentioned  some 
facts.  I  talked  to  him  of  France  and  Germany  ;  but  we 
agreed  that  England  was  the  place  for  learning  every  thing. 

Oct.  22.  —  At  four,  P.M.,  rode  in  a  stage-coach  to  visit 
Dr.  Roots,  at  Kingston.  Was  received  most  cordially,  and 


1837.]  PARIS.  307 

dined  with  him  at  six,  P.M.  Passed  the  evening  most 
pleasantly  in  recollecting  my  old  friends.  Wallace,  who 
lived  in  the  house  with  me,  is  in  or  near  Epsom.  Scuda- 
more,  our  brother-dresser,  is  Sir  Charles.  He  was  brought 
into  notice  by  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  whom  he  accidentally 
relieved ;  was  afterwards  called  to  him  in  Ireland,  and 
knighted  by  him,  besides  receiving  a  thousand  guineas.  Dr. 
Roots  has  a  snug  house  and  garden  on  the  banks  of  the 
Thames. 

Oct.  23.  —  At  eleven  o'clock,  took  leave  of  my  kind  en 
tertainer,  and  reached  Devonshire  Street  at  one. 

Oct.  27.  —  This  evening,  visited  Mrs.  Clark.  Found 
Dr.  Clark  out  of  town,  taking  a  week's  holiday.  He  rises  at 
half-past  seven,  breakfasts  before  nine,  receives  patients  till 
one.  Sometimes  eats  in  the  interval,  and  sometimes  not 
until  seven,  the  dinner-hour.  Takes  tea  at  ten,  and  sits 
reading  or  writing  till  one. 

Left  London  at  nine,  A.M.,  in  a  stage-coach  for  Dover. 
Tremendous  storm :  were  very  near  being  upset  beyond 
Canterbury,  from  the  violence  of  the  wind.  The  horses 
refused  to  proceed ;  but,  after  some  time,  thought  better  of 
it :  and  we  reached  Dover  in  safety  at  six,  P.M.  Got  into 
comfortable  quarters  at  the  Ship  Hotel,  and  had  a  nice  tea. 

Nov.  2.  —  Passed  the  day  at  Dover. 

Nov.  3.  —  Roused  at  seven  for  boat  for  Calais.  Arrived 
at  twelve.  At  three,  took  a  hired  carriage,  for  which  we 
paid  six  napoleons,  to  Paris. 

Nov.  5.  —  Passed  St.  Denis  in  darkness  and  rain,  and 
reached  Paris  at  seven  in  the  evening.  Went  to  Meurice's. 
Received  our  letters.  No  particularly  bad  news. 

Nov.  8.  —  At  eleven,  A.M.,  went  out  for  the  Faubourg  St. 
Germain.  In  going,  saw  a  collection  of  people  at  the  Tuile- 
ries;  and,  waiting  a  while,  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 


308  PARIS.  OET.  59. 

the  king  drive  out  in  his  coach  and  six.  He  is  a  fine- 
looking  man  ;  resembles  William  Harrison,  of  Philadelphia. 
He  bowed  gracefully  to  the  people,  who  took  their  hats 
off.  He  was  carefully  guarded. 

At  twelve,  reached  the  Faubourg ;  and,  with  Dr.  Shattuck, 
went  first  to  see  the  collection  of  anatomy  in  the  Ecole  de 
Medecine.  It  is  mostly  of  wax,  and  not  very  interesting : 
does  not  seem  very  much  improved  since  I  was  here.  The 
wet  preparations  are  badly  put  up. 

Next  saw  the  collection  called  Dupuytren's  Museum. 
The  room  containing  it  was  the  Chapel  of  the  Convent  of 
Cordeliers.  Very  handsomely  it  is  fitted  up  within,  retain 
ing  the  exterior  of  an  ancient  church.  The  preparations  are 
mostly  in  wax,  and,  compared  with  others,  not  very  good. 

Then  we  visited  the  dissecting-rooms  near  this  last 
museum.  They  are  large  rooms,  with  stone  floors  ;  very 
light,  but  not  warmed.  Many  of  the  subjects  were  ne 
glected  by  the  students,  and  decaying;  which  is  the  case 
everywhere. 

We  called  at  Charrier's,  the  instrument-maker's  ;  and  at 
Guy's,  the  bone-preparer's.  There  were  some  fine  skulls 
and  many  wax  preparations. 

After  a  visit  to  the  Hotel  Cluny,  the  palace  of  Francis  I., 
and  looking  at  the  Sorbonne  (now  used  for  lectures),  and 
the  College  of  Louis  le  Grand,  we  went  to  the  Hotel  Dieu, 
which  is  greatly  enlarged,  and  is  now  a  very  fine  hospital. 
The  surgeons  and  physicians,  six  in  number,  have  eacli  a 
separate  ward,  of  great  size. 

Looked  at  the  superb  Church  of  Notre  Dame,  and  the 
place  where  stood  the  palace  of  the  archbishop,  levelled  by 
the  people  some  years  since. 

Made  a  visit  to  the  Hospital  of  the  School  of  Medicine, 
and  found  the  building  to  be  the  same  as  formerly,  —  the  old 


1837.]  PARIS.  309 

Convent  of  Cordeliers.  I  was  recognized  by  Pierre  Geraud 
as  a  former  student  of  Dubois,  though  he  had  not  seen  me 
for  thirty-five  years.  This  hospital  is  much  improved. 

Nov.  9.  —  Reached  the  Hospice  de  1'Ecole,  or,  as  it  is 
called,  Practical  School,  at  ten.  Found  M.  Jules  Cloquet 
giving  a  clinical  lecture  in  the  old  amphitheatre  of  Dubois, 
and  sitting  and  talking  much  in  the  same  manner.  Waited 
till  his  lecture  was  over,  and  then  gave  him  a  letter  of  intro 
duction  ;  and,  after  some  chat,  he  politely  asked  me  to  visit 
with  him  the  next  day.  Afterwards  went  to  hear  Breschet 
lecture  in  the  Amphitheatre  de  1'Ecole  de  Me'decine.  Bres 
chet  is  a  very  fat  man  ;  sits  at  a  table  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
long,  covered  with  preparations  ;  occasionally  rising  to  show 
his  preparations  in  a  very  cursory  way.  He  spoke  fluently, 
but  in  a  low,  monotonous  tone,  without  pauses  or  modula 
tion. 

He  was  followed  by  Richerand,  introductory  to  surgery. 
Richerand  is  an  old  man ;  speaks  very  low,  in  a  mumbling 
way,  so  that  I  could  understand  but  little  of  what  he  said. 
He  dwelt  on  the  qualities  of  an  operating  surgeon,  espe 
cially  of  experience  and  habit.  He  described  the  feelings 
of  a  surgeon  on  undertaking  an  important  operation,  —  the 
internal  tremor,  the  confusion  of  vision,  and  the  fears  which 
agitated  him  before  beginning.  His  audience  was  small. 

Nov.  12.  —  Rose  at  seven.  Rode  to  the  H6tel  Dieu,  and 
was  introduced  to  M.  Louis,  who  seemed  to  have  known  of 
my  being  here.  He  was  very  kind  and  attentive.  He  is  a 
tall  man,  with  an  excellent  profile,  large  forehead  and  nose  ; 
has  an  air  of  sagacity  and  reflection ;  and,  on  the  whole,  is 
an  imposing  person.  He  went  rapidly  through  the  wards  ; 
always  giving  the  patients  the  necessary  attention,  and  al 
ways  being  possessed  of  their  cases,  and  recollecting  them 
for  a  long  time  back. 


310  ITALY.  [^T.60. 

Dec.  30.  —  Left  Paris  for  Italy. 

Jan.  8.  —  Arrived  at  Marseilles. 

Jan.  10.  —  Left  Marseilles,  by  steamboat,  for  Naples. 
Arrived,  Jan.  16,  at  Naples. 

Jan.  19.  —  We  went  to  the  catacombs.  They  are  entered 
through  the  courts  of  an  ancient  convent.  There  is  a  large 
open  cavern,  into  which  you  enter  by  aid  of  lights,  and  then 
explore  an  immense  extent  of  aisles  and  crossways,  cut  out 
of  the  rock  of  lava.  In  the  sides  of  the  passages  are  cavi 
ties  for  dead  bodies,  one  above  another,  seeming  to  have 
been  cut  out  as  they  were  required  for  individuals.  The 
passages  run  up  and  down.  In  some  places  there  were  two 
stories,  and  a  communication  by  subterranean  vaults  with 
other  parts  of  the  city.  Regular  temples  or  tombs  were 
seen,  with  their  walls  painted  in  fresco,  with  Roman  deities. 
We  were  told  that  a  Roman  street  ran  through  the  cemetery 
towards  Mola,  which  had  been  lately  closed.  The  whole  is 
cut  out  of  a  volcanic  rock,  and  volcanic  pillars  support  the 
roof.  Our  research  was  conducted  by  aid  of  a  flambeau, 
and  lasted  an  hour.  In  an  adjoining  vault  are  some  dried 
bodies ;  but  we  could  not  readily  get  at  them. 

Jan.  27.  —  Peach-trees  in  full  bloom.  In  the  evening, 
went  to  see  Dr.  O'Reilly,  who  has  been  here  this  twenty 
years.  He  says  there  are  no  regular  endemics,  no  yellow- 
fever.  The  measles  and  scarlet-fever  are  mild..  Small-pox-is 
not  fatal ;  vaccination  general.  He  described  the  cholera. 
About  thirty-five  thousand  died  in  the  two  attacks.  Opinion 
about  contagion  still  divided :  the  current  runs  against  it. 
Living  is  cheap.  A  horse  is  worth  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  Dr.  O'Reilly  thinks  the  plague  contagious.  He 
does  not  believe  in  the  contagion  of  consumption.  Told  a 
good  story  of  the  cholera,  presenting  himself  to  the  magis 
trates  of  Genoa  with  fear  under  his  cloak. 


1838.]  ROME.  311 

Feb.  1.  —  Left  Naples,  by  Vettura,  for  Rome.  Arrived 
there  Feb.  5. 

Feb.  13.  —  Professor  Capello  called  this  morning,  after  a 
week's  time,  and  was  very  polite  and  intelligent.  He  says 
the  intermittent  fever,  or  what  he  calls  "  fievre  tierce  ma- 
ligne,"  is  a  prevalent  fever  in  Rome  during  summer  and 
autumn,  and  fatal  unless  treated  by  quinine.  The  other 
fevers  here  are  the  typhoid  occasionally  ;  and,  at  this  season, 
there  are  pulmonary  inflammations.  On  the  whole,  Septem 
ber  is  the  most  unwholesome  month.  Phthisis  is  common, 
and  much  dreaded.  However,  the  cases  of  this  disease  in 
San  Spirito  are  few.  They  are,  as  usual,  in  a  room  by 
themselves. 

The  museum  is  very  handsomely  put  up,  as  usual  in 
Italy,  in  immense  mahogany  cases,  so  contrived,  that,  unless 
opened,  many  of  the  preparations  are  concealed.  The  pieces 
are  not  numerous,  but  well  kept.  &*>& '* 


312  ROME.  [jET.  60. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

EUROPE    IN   1838. 

ROME,  Feb.  15.  —  Dr.  Warren  witnessed  the  cere 
monial  of  inducting  new-made  cardinals  into  office. 
Latin  addresses  were  made ;  and  the  cardinals,  kneel 
ing,  received  their  hats  with  much  the  same  forms  as 
those  of  graduation  at  Cambridge. 

Subsequently  he  joined  a  party  of  about  twenty 
Americans  to  visit  the  old  church  under  St.  Peter's, 
founded  by  Constantine,  where  the  bones  of  St.  Peter 
and  St.  Paul  are  said  to  be  interred. 

The  University,  or  Sapienza,  naturally  attracted  his 
attention.  He  found  here  a  good  collection  of  mine 
ralogy  ;  another,  of  physical  instruments,  —  all,  except 
the  air-pump,  made  in  Italy.  He  notices  also  in  his 
journal  the  natural-history  department,  containing  a 
collection  of  butterflies,  and  birds  of  plumage,  not  so 
beautiful  as  in  America,  —  the  cabinet  of  comparative 
anatomy  and  of  human  anatomy. 

He  visited  the  hospitals  in  company  with  Dr.  Bucci, 
who  gave  an  account  of  the  diseases  and  medical 
practice  of  the  place.  At  that  time,  there  was  little 
homoeopathy  in  Rome :  it  has  since  become  formida 
ble  to  regular  practitioners.  Dr.  Bucci  did  not  seem 


1838.]  ROME.  313 

very  decided  as  to  the  contagiousness  of  cholera  and 
consumption,  but  was  inclined  to  the  affirmative.  It 
may  not  be  known  to  the  general  reader,  that  con 
sumption  was  formerly  considered  contagious  in 
France  and  Italy.  There  are,  doubtless,  some  who 
still  hold  these  views ;  but  Dr.  Warren  found,  that 
generally,  in  Paris  and  elsewhere,  opinions  were 
growing  towards  the  side  of  non-contagion. 

Perhaps  a  new  and  more  philosophical  theory  of 
contagion  may  be  based  upon  the  present  views  with 
regard  to  the  blood.  Dr.  Warren  came  to  the  con 
clusion,  that  erysipelas  was  induced  by  bad  emana 
tions,  acting  as  poison,  and  producing  an  alteration  in 
the  blood  itself.  If  this  is  the  case,  why  should  not 
consumption,  cholera,  typhoid-fever,  act  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  produce  a  change  favorable  to  the  deve 
lopment  of  epidemic  influence,  and  also  to  any  disor 
der  to  which  the  individual  was  predisposed  I  Thus 
we  have  not  a  specific  contagion,  but  a  miasm ;  or, 
if  we  prefer  the  expression,  an  unhealthy  emanation, 
predisposing  those  exposed  to  it  to  disease. 

The  carnival  was  in  full  tide  during  this  month  in 
Rome.  Dr.  Warren  pursued  his  daily  investigations 
until  the  1st  of  March,  when  he  left  this  city  on  his 
way  to  the  north. 

March  1, 1838.  —  Rose  at  four ;  got  away  at  six  ;  rainy 
morning.  Passed  through  the  site  of  ancient  Veii,  through 
Nepi,  Civita  Castellana,  Narni ;  and  reach  Terni  at  half-past 
six,  P.M.  They  say  it  is  seventy  miles.  The  ride  into 

40 


314  APENNINES,  OET.  60. 

the  Apennines  very  picturesque.  Too  late  to  see  the  falls, 
which  are  four  miles  distant. 

March  2.  —  Left  Terni  at  half-past  six.  Rode  ten  or 
fifteen  miles,  through  a  wild  valley  of  the  Apennines ; 
ascended  a  very  high  mountain  of  the  Apennines,  where  we 
were  threatened  with  oxen  to  our  carriage,  but  fought  them 
off.  Spoletto  is  in  a  beautiful  situation  ;  is  famous  for  its 
resistance  to  Hannibal,  and  for  the  Clitumnus  rising  at 
its  gate.  Passed  through  a  beautiful,  picturesque  country  ; 
and  arrived  at  five  at  Perugia,  famous  for  its  proximity  to 
Lake  Thrasymene,  for  its  height,  for  its  great  number  of 
churches  and  convents.  Saw  here  an  arch  built  by  Augus 
tus,  a  fine  fountain,  the  cathedral,  and  churches.  All  this 
day,  a  soft  rain  ;  clear  at  night ;  cold  on  the  mountain. 
Saw  snow  all  day  on  the  mountains  here.  Lodged  at  Hotel 
de  1'Europe,  —  an  excellent  though  deserted  hotel. 

March  3.  —  Rose  at  five  ;  left  Perugia  at  half-past  six  ; 
morning  cold,  and  a  cloud  resting  on  the  mountain.  As  we 
descended,  we  got  out  of  the  cloud,  and  were  favored  with 
a  sight  of  the  sun.  About  eight  miles  from  Perugia  is  the 
battle-field  of  Lake  Thrasymene.  It  occurred  on  a  narrow 
slip  of  land  between  the  mountain  and  the  lake ;  Hannibal 
descending  on  the  Romans,  who  were  pent  up  between  the 
lake  and  mountain.  There  are  relics  of  the  Roman  camp, 
some  inscriptions  near,  and  other  marks  of  the  battle. 
From  here,  passing  on,  we  soon  left  the  dominions  of  the 
Pope.  We  have  had  much  trouble,  in  travelling,  from  cheat 
ing  postmasters  and  postilions,  poor  horses,  and  a  flood  of 
beggars.  The  air,  since  we  crossed  the  Apennines,  is  colder ; 
and  we  have  seen  more  snow  on  the  neighboring  hills.  The 
appearance  of  the  country,  on  entering  Tuscany,  is  sensibly 
improved.  The  people  are  better  looking;  though,  it  must 
be  said,  the  Pope's  people  are  better  than  the  Neapolitans. 


1838.]  FLORENCE.  315 

At  four,  P.M.,  reached  Arezzo,  from  winch  Hannibal  marched 
to  Thrasymene.  Here  was  born  Petrarca.  There  is  a 
Gothic  cathedral,  a  very  fine  public  promenade,  and  some 
Roman  remains. 

March  4. — Left  Arezzo  at  half-past  six,  the  sun  shining 
pleasantly ;  but  few  birds,  and  a  cold  blast  from  the  moun 
tains.  The  Apennines,  covered  with  snow,  accompanied  us 
all  the  way  through  the  day's  journey,  appearing  very  near, 
and  quite  brilliant.  The  country  is  handsome  ;  the  fields 
finely  arranged  for  irrigation,  and  mostly  covered  with 
vines.  Trees  are  planted  for  the  purpose  of  supporting 
the  vines,  instead  of  hoops,  as  in  France.  There  are  a  mul 
titude  of  olives,  which  retain  their  leaves  through  the 
winter,  as  do  the  laurels  and  myrtles,  cypresses,  pines,  and 
live-oaks.  The  common  oaks,  beside  poplars,  &c.,  are  co 
vered  with  the  dry  leaves  of  last  season.  A  multitude  of 
canals  cross  the  country,  which  are  so  arranged  as  to  be  let 
into  the  furrows  in  the  fields. 

The  Arno  appeared  to-day  first  at  Arezzo,  and  accompa 
nied  us  through  our  day's  journey.  We  reached  Florence 
at  about  four,  P.M.  ;  having,  had  only  one  or  two  showers. 

The  appearance  of  Florence  is  not  prepossessing  on  enter 
ing  ;  but  it  is  a  clean  town,  in  the  dark  color  of  its  public 
buildings  resembling  Venice.  After  a  walk  on  the  banks  of 
the  Arno,  dined.  We  had  poor  table-wine,  but  got  a  bottle 
of  Monte  Pulciano,  which  was  cheap  and  good.  The  Tus 
can  wines  have  much  reputation ;  but  we  have  not  seen 
much  of  them  yet. 

Evening  at  Mr.  Greenough's,  who  received  us  very  kindly, 
and  answered  many  questions  important  to  me. 

March  5.  —  Boston  Massacre.  Rode  with  Mr.  Greenough 
to  Fenhi,  Banker's,  who  gave  me  a  ticket  for  Segato's  prepa 
rations  ;  then  to  the  Cabinet  de  Physique.  We  saw,  first, 


316  FLORENCE.  [^ET.  60. 

the  famous  Cabinet  of  Anatomy,  —  a  skeleton,  eight  feet 
high,  of  a  Florentine  boy,  nineteen  years  old  ;  very  beauti 
ful  preparations  of  muscles,  very  minutely  and  accurately 
done  ;  the  arteries,  veins,  nerves,  organs  of  generation ; 
and  those  of  the  head,  chest,  and  abdomen.  Many  of  them 
were  modern,  all  beautiful,  and  generally  accurate.  Most 
of  them  were  done  more  than  a  century  since.  Collections 
in  all  the  departments  of  natural  history,  —  quadrupeds, 
birds,  reptiles,  insects,  mollusca ;  beautiful  preparations  of 
sepia  in  wax ;  insects  and  mummies ;  bones  mineralized ; 
representation  of  the  horrors  of  the  plague.  The  collection 
appears  very  complete,  and  is  in  fine  order. 

Florence  Gallery.  —  Here  the  Venus  de  Medicis  stands 
pre-eminent.  She  was  dug  up  at  Adrian's  Village  ;  was  in 
fourteen  pieces ;  was  put  together,  so  that  there  is  nothing 
new  but  the  hands.  The  figure  is  much  more  beautiful 
than  it  appears  in  the  copies,  and  is  very  captivating.  The 
number  of  statues  here  is  great,  and  that  of  pictures  innu 
merable. 

Evening  at  Mr.  Greenough's. 

March  6.  —  Rose  at  six.  Day  clear,  and  no  rain.  This 
is  attributed  here  to  uncovering  an  image  of  the  Virgin, 
and  to  processions  in  the  streets  of  priests  singing.  This  is 
done  in  case  of  any  calamity. 

At  three,  Segato's  Museum  with  Mr.  Greenough.  Fine 
pieces  of  skin  of  breast.  Various  sections  of  liver,  lungs, 
and  other  organs ;  table  of  different  pieces,  morbid  and 
healthy ;  various  animals,  finely  preserved  ;  two  beautiful 
skulls. 

Mr.  Greenough's  friend  thinks  that  Segato  enclosed  the 
parts  in  plaster  of  Paris ;  then  poured  in  a  desiccating  liquid, 
and  varnished  the  plaster  of  Paris  afterwards  to  retain  this 
liquid.  He  used  no  large  vessels  for  immersion.  He  went 


1838.]  FLORENCE.  317 

to  Egypt,  it  is  thought,  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  embalm 
ing.  The  pieces  are  two  or  three  hundred.  There  are  two 
or  three  blood-vessel  arms,  like  our  preparations.  There  is 
nothing  brilliant  or  practically  useful,  except  the  animals. 
They  would  not  sell  any  part. 

In  taking  leave  of  Florence,  I  have  thought  that  I  have 
much  to  thank  the  medical  men  for  their  politeness,  par 
ticularly  all  those  named  above.  Many  of  them  have  excel 
lent  notions,  though  somewhat  fettered  by  prescription. 
They  are  unwilling  to  use  powerful  remedies ;  leave  na 
ture  to  act.  They  generally  speak  French ;  and  Sig.  Del 
Greco,  English.  There  are  a  number  of  English  students  of 
painting,  and  some  other  foreigners. 

The  climate  has  been  cold  ;  wind  from  the  north-west, 
from  Apennines,  but  dry. 

Among  the  Americans  here  are  the  families  of  Child, 
Grand,  Powers. 

Florence,  according  to  Dr.  Harding,  is  free  from  intermit- 
tents,  and  has  much  the  diseases  of  England.  The  people 
are  very  jealous  of  foreign  physicians,  on  account  of  their 
religion  ;  and  he  is  obliged  to  proceed  with  caution  in  regard 
to  them. 

At  eleven,  went  to  bed  unwell  and  fatigued. 

March  14.  —  Arose  at  half-past  three.  Left  Florence  at 
five.  Fine  view  of  the  valley  on  ascending  the  Apennines. 
About  eleven,  began  to  encounter  snow  in  the  road,  and 
passed  through  it  for  five  or  six  hours  ;  that  is,  it  lay  on  the 
roadside,  and  on  the  mountains  about  us.  The  sun  being 
perfectly  bright,  the  snow  was  dissolving,  and  running  down 
the  roads,  as  it  does  with  us  in  March.  A  pleasant  associa 
tion  on  the  top  of  the  Apennines  was  ice ;  and,  of  course, 
thermometer  not  much  above  freezing.  It  is  the  only  bright 
sun  we  have  had  through  the  day  for  some  weeks  ;  as  the 


BOLOGNA.  [JET.  60. 

weather,  though  unusually  mild,  has  been  rainy  through 
the  winter.  To-day  the  atmosphere  was  transparent.  We 
were  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  clouds  on  the  neighboring 
mountains.  The  only  clouds  we  saw  were  those  formations 
by  the  condensation  of  vapors  from  the  cold  of  the  snow- 
covered  mountains.  The  brighter  vapors  give  a  beautiful 
blue  tinge  to  the  mountains  which  are  less  high. 

The  Apennines  are  generally  sterile,  though  in  some 
parts  wooded.  The  roads  are  good,  but  mountainous, — 
constantly  ascending  and  descending ;  of  course,  tedious  : 
so  that  we  did  not  reach  Bologna  till  half-past  eight,  —  fif 
teen  hours,  —  notwithstanding  extra  pay  to  postilions. 

Of  course,  we  entered  Bologna  in  darkness,  and  could 
only  discover  the  piazzas  which  line  the  streets  of  the 
town. 

We  lodged  at  the  San  Marco ;  and  found,  contrary  to 
expectation,  very  comfortable  arrangements. 


Dr.  Warren  passed  much  of  his  time  in  Florence 
in  practising  operations  upon  the  dead  body,  obtain 
ing  preparations,  visiting  the  hospitals,  &c.,  making 
particular  records  of  the  same. 

At  Bologna  he  visited  the  hospital,  which  he 
found  very  clean,  and  well  arranged,  containing  six 
hundred  patients,  and  having  a  large  wine-cellar,  in 
which  were  a  vast  number  of  immense  wine-butts,  the 
supply  for  one  year.  He  also  visited  the  university, 
and  other  objects  of  interest  in  the  neighborhood.  On 
the  16th,  proceeded  on  his  way  through  Ferrara 
to  Padua,  where  he  visited  the  famous  universitv,  at 


1838.]  VENICE.  319 

which  eighteen  thousand  students  were  once  taught; 
and,  on  the  17th,  arrived  at  Venice.  Found  the 
water  —  which  is  rain-water,  filtered  by  passing 
through  sand  —  better  than  anywhere  else.  Venice 
had  only  two  springs,  both  in  the  precinct  of  the 
Ducal  Palace.  The  hospital  is  capable  of  containing 
a  thousand  patients,  and  has  two  or  three  squares  of 
gardens,  very  large  and  pleasant.  Bima  was  the 
principal  surgeon.  On  the  20th,  left  Venice,  and 
proceeded  through  Vicenza  and  Verona,  visiting  the 
remarkable  things  at  those  cities  on  his  way  to  Paris, 
through  Munich  and  Frankfort,  after  passing  ten 
weeks  in  Italy. 

A  part  of  the  journey  to  Munich  he  employed  in 
considering  and  noting  down  what  improvements  he 
should  undertake  on  his  return  home.  His  notes  are 
as  follows :  — 

A.  In  the  Medical  School,  —  1.  Open  a  library  for  stu 

dents.  2.  Private  conversation  with  students.  3. 
Dissecting-room  on  an  improved  plan ;  lights,  and 
dissection  in  the  evening.  4.  Bodies  preserved  by 
arsenic. 

B.  In  the  hospital,  —  1.  A  more  exact  attendance.      2. 

More  chemical  instruction. 

C.  In   private   practice,  —  A   more   full   investigation  of 

cases  ;  a  more  free  and  friendly  intercourse  with 
patients,  especially  poor  ones. 

D.  In   the   church,  —  Enlarged  accommodations  for  the 

poor.  Encouragement  for  private  religious  meet 
ings. 

E.  Domestic  devotion. 


320  GERMANY.  [J5T.  60. 

F.  Public  improvements,  —  Bringing  in  water.      Encou 

ragement  of  political  content. 

G.  Erection  of  a  tomb  or  monument  in  form  of  a  pyra 

mid. 
H.     Construction  of  a  small  dissecting-room ;   also  a  glass 

room  outside  of  my  window. 
I.      Improvements  in  the  country,  —  Raising  of  grapes ; 

foreign  medicinal  plants. 
K.    Above  all,  a  more  steady  devotion,  more  thankfulness 

for  the  blessings  of  life,  and  more  preparation  for 

death. 

At  Munich  he  saw  Professors  Walter,  the  ocu 
list  ;  and  Wilhelm,  a  famous  surgeon.  With  M. 
Walter  he  visited  the  hospital,  capable  of  containing 
about  five  hundred  patients.  Here  was  a  magnificent 
collection  of  surgical  instruments.  The  instruments 
for  lithotrity  were  really  splendid.  There  were  about 
three  hundred  students  in  the  university,  one-third  of 
which  attended  the  hospital.  Passed  through  Ulm 
and  Stutgard  to  Heidelberg,  where  he  called  upon 
Professor  Tiedeman,  whom  he  found  at  dinner,  be 
tween  twelve  and  one,  according  to  German  habits. 
Visited  with  him  his  large  collections  of  anatomical 
preparations,  which  he  had  been  twenty-two  years 
collecting.  From  Heidelberg,  passed  on  through 
Mayence,  Frankfort,  Coblentz,  Cologne,  Aix  la  Cha- 
pelle,  to  Brussels,  examining  and  noting  whatever 
there  was  remarkable  on  the  road.  In  this  neighbor 
hood  he  visited  the  village  of  Waterloo,  and  the 
other  spots  now  so  famous  in  history.  Brussels  was 


1838.]  PARIS.  3*21 

entirely  changed  since  1801,  so  many  new  houses 
and  palaces  have  been  built. 

Found  the  Germans  a  civil,  honest,  intelligent 
people;  the  towns  handsome,  and  the  country  well 
cultivated.  The  women  work  equally  with  the  men. 
The  Belgian  country,  being  more  free  than  the 
German,  is  better  cultivated,  and  there  are  more 
manufactories.  "  Every  thing  breathes  the  spirit  of 
freedom.  You  are  no  longer  teased  for  your  pass 
ports.  The  Belgians  are  very  happy,  and  have  as 
much  freedom  as  the  English,  and  less  aristocracy." 

Here  he  visited  Seutin,  the  inventor  of  the  bandage 
amidonne,  and  went  to  the  Hospital  St.  Pierre  with 
him.  On  the  next  day,  called  on  Professor  Ugten- 
hausen,  who  took  him  over  the  Hospital  St.  Jean. 
On  the  10th  of  April,  arrived  in  Paris  about  two 
o'clock,  and  went  directly  to  a  meeting  of  the  Aca 
demy,  where  he  heard  a  paper  on  Contagion  read. 
Only  one  person  spoke  in  favor  of  the  contagion  of 
cholera.  In  a  subsequent  conversation  with  Dr. 
Louis,  the  latter  said  that  the  whole  matter  lay  in 
obscurity  at  present,  but  he  is  disposed  to  believe  the 
plague  contagious;  yellow-fever  and  typhus  conta 
gious  under  certain  circumstances  ;  cholera  not  con 
tagious.  For  catarrh,  Louis  gives  one-quarter  of  a 
grain  of  opium  at  night. 

Dr.  Warren  was  confined  some  days  to  the  house 
by  catarrh  after  his  arrival  in  Paris,  and  was  visited 
by  M.  Louis.  After  he  got  out,  he  was  much  in 
terested  in  visiting  the  paper  anatomy  of  Dr.  Auzoux, 

41 


322  PARIS.  [^ET.  GO. 

which  he  found  very  beautiful ;  in  investigating  the 
mode  of  preserving  bodies,  by  M.  Ganal ;  examining 
bandages  to  be  applied  after  division  of  the  tendo 
Achillis ;  the  apparatus  for  cure  of  distorted  feet, 
without  operation;  and  similar  objects  of  medical 
interest.  He  attended  the  hospitals  constantly,  and 
pretty  soon  found  himself  with  a  regular  set  of 
patients  requiring  daily  attendance,  —  of  course, 
among  the  Americans.  He  dissected  a  good  deal, 
and  practised  operations  with  the  French  surgeons, 
especially  that  of  lithotrity  with  Civiale. 

On  all  other  days,  except  Sundays,  his  time  was 
spent,  like  that  of  the  most  diligent  student,  in  passing 
from  hospital  to  hospital ;  from  thence  to  lecture ; 
hence  to  the  dissecting-room ;  and,  in  the  intervening 
time,  visiting  instrument-makers;  embalmers;  M.  Mar 
tin,  the  orthopedist,  and  inventor  of  bandages  and 
apparatus  for  club-feet  and  distortions ;  artists  who 
made  wax  preparations ;  and  others.  The  evenings, 
till  a  late  hour,  were  spent  in  cultivating  the  acquaint 
ance  of  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the  country.  He 
also  constantly  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Academy 
of  Medicine. 

Upon  the  9th  of  May,  he  visited  the  magnificent 
establishment  of  M.  Guerin,  at  Passy,  for  the  cure 
of  deformities,  by  exercises. 


JOURNAL. 


May  22.  —  At  six  in  the  morning,  was  called  to  see  the 
embalming  of  Talleyrand  ;   which  consisted  in  taking  out 


1838.]  PARIS    TO    LONDON.  323 

the  viscera,  and  placing  them  for  some  time  in  a  preserving 
liquor,  and  then  returning  them.  The  brain  was  removed 
by  trephine,  and  the  whole  immersed  in  an  alcoholic  solu 
tion  of  corrosive  sublimate  for  ten  hours.  Incisions  were 
made  in  the  muscles,  and  filled  with  essences  and  powders  ; 
and  then  the  whole  body,  except  the  face,  strapped  with 
diachylon  plasters. 

May  25.  —  Rose  early,  and  continued  my  labors  for 
departing.  At  two,  left  Paris  in  rail-cars  for  St.  Germain. 
Passed  the  night  at  Maisons,  in  the  midst  of  delightful  woods 
and  groves.  Heard  the  music  of  the  nightingales  for  the 
first  time.  We  had  a  very  agreeable  evening  in  company 
with  Mr.  H.  Cabot's  family,  and  Mr.  F.  Gray,  of  Boston. 

May  26.  —  Left  Maisons,  and  embarked  on  the  steamboat 
to  go  down  the  Seine.  The  passage  through  the  river  is 
quite  beautiful,  and  more  varied  than  the  scenery  of  most 
rivers.  The  little  towns  on  the  banks  appear  very  pretty  and 
interesting  as  you  pass  them;  and  there  are  old  churches 
and  convents  scattered  along  the  banks.  Among  the  pas 
sengers  were  Professor  and  Mrs.  Farrar,  of  Cambridge. 
The  boat  was  very  slow ;  so  that  we  did  not  reach  Rouen  till 
nine  o'clock,  and  had  some  difficulty  in  procuring  lodgings. 
After  securing  a  place  of  shelter,  we  walked  through  the 
town,  and  saw  the  Cathedral,  which  is  fine  and  imposing. 

May  27.  —  Rose  at  four,  being  told  the  steamboat  was  to 
go  at  five.  As  it  did  not  move  till  six,  we  had  an  hour 
to  walk  about  the  town.  Saw  the  inside  of  the  Cathedral ; 
some  very  old  and  fine  churches ;  the  Monument  of  Joan 
of  Arc,  who  was  burnt,  —  a  very  poor  work ;  the  ancient 
Hall  of  Justice,  —  a  fine  Gothic  building. 

The  streets  are  narrow ;  but  the  quays  and  boulevards 
are  fine,  and  give  the  city  a  pleasant  air. 

May  28.  —  Very  pleasant  sail  down  the  lower  part  of  the 


324  LONDON.  jyET.  60. 

Seine.  The  ruins  of  the  Abbey  of  Tremiege  presented  an 
uncommonly  picturesque  appearance.  The  garden  of  M. 
,  with  its  regular  alleys,  is  very  handsome. 

At  one,  we  reached  Havre,  which  had  less  appearance  of 
bustle  than  I  expected.  The  harbor,  for  the  short  time  we 
were  there,  appeared  contracted.  But  we  were  obliged  to 
go  directly  from  one  boat  to  another,  so  that  we  had  little 
opportunity  of  seeing  the  place.  The  town  appeared  more 
pleasant  than  I  supposed. 

Honfleur  and  Harfleur,  in  its  neighborhood,  are  both 
beautifully  situated.  The  harbor  of  Harfleur  is  no  more. 
As  soon  as  we  got  out,  the  wind  became  violent  ahead ;  a  high 
sea  ;  and  so  we  had  a  miserable  sea-sick  time,  with  no  conve 
niences  till  we  reached  London  next  day,  —  Monday,  May  28. 

Landing  near  the  town,  we  entered  the  Custom  House, 
and  left  our  goods  in  the  care  of  our  domestic  to  enter, 
while  we  rode  on,  and  took  up  quarters  at  the  Sackville 
Hotel,  in  Sackville  Street. 


The  transition  from  Paris  to  London,  he  says,  gives 
an  impression  unfavorable  to  the  latter  place,  as  far 
as*  appearances  and  things  are  concerned.  With 
regard  to  the  people,  the  reverse  is  the  case. 

He  attended  the  lectures  of  Mr.  Owen,  on  the 
structure  of  the  teeth,  and  other  subjects  of  compa 
rative  anatomy;  and  visited  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
to  witness  the  operations  of  Mr.  Lawrence.  Re 
ceived  much  kindness  and  attention  from  Mr.  Travers, 
"  one  of  the  best  men  in  London."  Also  met  with 
Guthrie,  Sir  H.  Halford,  Herbert  Mayo,  Mr.  Lis 
ter,  and  other  distinguished  men. 


1838.]  LONDON.  3  '25 

On  the  28th  of  June,  the  coronation  took  place. 
Subsequently,  he  obtained  admission  to  the  House 
of  Lords,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  hearing 
Brougham,  Lord  Wellington,  and  other  distinguished 
characters.  He  thought  Lord  Brougham  the  best 
speaker. 

The  subject  of  typhus  and  typhoid  fever  excited 
much  of  his  attention.  The  fever  he  found  prevail 
ing  with  an  eruption  was  said  to  have  originated 
within  two  or  three  years,  and  since  the  appearance 
of  the  cholera.  At  the  Middlesex  Hospital  he  found 
many  cases,  and  they  were  generally  received  in  an 
incipient  state.  The  treatment  consisted  in  shaving 
the  head,  and  giving  a  little  castor-oil :  but  they 
relied  principally  upon  beef-tea,  porter,  and  wine,  in 
an  early  stage ;  scarcely  giving  mercury,  antimony,  or 
any  drastic  medicine  ;  nor  do  they  bleed,  although  the 
lungs  are  frequently  affected.  The  patients  here  are 
people  of  the  lowest  class.  A  travelled  physician 
whom  he  met  at  this  hospital  stoutly  denied  the 
utility  of  the  English  practice  of  purging.  His  doc 
trine  was,  wait  till  the  disease  is  formed,  and  then 
attack  the  symptoms.  This,  says  Dr.  Warren,  is 
nearly  the  doctrine  of  Louis. 

Dr.  Roupell  contests  the  distinction  between  typhus 
and  typhoid.  He  maintains  they  are  shades  of  the 
same  fever. 

Dr.  Warren  and  his  family  sailed  from  Portsmouth 
on  the  22d  of  July.  He  was  fortunate  in  finding  on 
board  a  medical  gentleman  from  Switzerland,  with  a 


326  VOYAGE    HOME.  [/fc/T.  60. 

letter  to  him,  with  whom  he  had  much  interesting 
conversation. 

He  passed  his  time  on  board  ship  in  reviewing  his 
labors  while  in  Europe,  and  arranging  and  studying 
the  various  subjects  of  information  and  instruction  he 
had  obtained  under  their  different  heads.  Some  of 
his  concluding  reflections  are  as  follows.  They  give 
the  interesting  results  of  his  researches  and  expe 
rience  in  foreign  travel,  and  of  his  reflections  thereon; 
and  embody  hints  upon  which  he  afterwards  dili 
gently  acted,  as  circumstances  admitted,  through  the 
rest  of  his  life. 

The  greatest  benefit  which  we  can  notice  of  a  tour  in 
Europe  is  the  lifting  us,  as  it  were,  from  the  ordinary 
course  of  events,  so  that  we  obtain  a  more  extended  and 
independent  view  of  our  profession  and  of  the  general 
course  of  things.  We  have  an  opportunity  of  comparing 
different  modes  of  practice,  and  of  noting  advances  made 
in  different  places  in  the  different  departments.  It  gives  us 
a  new  start  in  professional  views,  and  increases  our  interest 
in  many  points,  and  particularly  in  the  works  of  authors 
with  whom  we  have  gained  a  personal  acquaintance.  We 
learn,  also,  to  judge  of  the  estimation  in  which  modern 
works  are  held. 

It  is  true,  we  might  obtain  much  the  same  knowledge  by 
a  careful  comparison  of  foreign  journals ;  but  it  is  difficult 
to  do  this  with  sufficient  interest  to  be  profitable  in  the  way 
of  comparison. 

On  returning  home,  it  is  necessary  to  avoid  any  apparent 
assumption  of  superiority,  and  to  be  rather  backward  in 
communicating  opinions  and  discoveries,  and  in  proposing 


1838.]  REFLECTIONS.  327 

changes.  All  this  must  be  done,  however,  in  a  gradual 
way ;  always  taking  grounds  that  are  sound,  tenable,  and 
practical.  In  regard  to  the  estimates  of  foreign  and  domes 
tic  comforts,  health,  climate,  &c.,  these  are  generally  favor 
able  to  our  country  ;  though  there  is  room  for  improvement 
in  many  particulars,  —  the  establishment  of  a  general  scien 
tific  association,  of  an  institution  for  the  arts,  and  the  im 
provement  of  private  or  pupilary  education. 

In  regard  to  the  latter,  there  must  be  a  freer  communica 
tion  with  students, —  say,  weekly;  and,  if  each  should  be 
desired  to  bring  forward  something  new  which  he  had  read, 
it  would  improve  the  whole. 

The  public  lectures  must  be  longer,  and  the  means  of 
reading  opened  to  the  students.  The  hospital  advantages 
should  be  made  more  practical.  The  diffusion  of  prizes 
among  the  students  should  be  attended  to.  Dissections  of 
animals  should  be  encouraged  to  a  certain  extent.  The 
knowledge  of  natural  history  and  scientific  cultivation 
should  be  thought  of. 

The  absurd  prejudices  in  favor  of  public  opinion,  and 
especially  that  of  newspapers,  should  be  avoided.  The  esta 
blishment  of  a  weekly  meeting  of  men  favorable  to  improve 
ment  should  be  effected.  In  getting  up  considerable  works, 
we  must  not  be  in  too  much  haste.  Begin  well,  and  let 
posterity  finish.  Above  all,  the  interests  of  religion  and 
morals  should  claim  a  primary  consideration,  and  a  proper 
share  of  time  and  attention.  Our  ancient  feelings  should  be 
put  out  of  view.  Ancient  men,  and  relics  of  antiquity, 
should  be  cultivated. 

One  thing  also  is  essential ;  that  is,  not  to  go  beyond 
one's  strength.  After  working  from  thirty-five  to  forty 
years,  one  should  give  up  the  idea  of  severe  and  profitable 
labor,  and  work  moderately. 


328  RETURN    HOME.  [VET.  60. 

Among  things  important  to  be  done  is  to  better  the  con 
dition  of  the  poor  in  the  alms-houses,  especially  of  the  sick 
poor,  the  arrangements  for  whom  are  very  deficient.  The 
ventilation  of  their  rooms  is  especially  bad. 

On  the  day  after  his  arrival  in  New  York,  Dr. 
Warren  received  a  visit  from  Chancellor  Matthews, 
who  informed  him  he  was  chosen  Professor  of  Ana 
tomy,  and  Dean  of  the  Faculty,  in  the  University  of 
New  York.  The  chancellor  expressed  his  desire  that 
he  would  accept  the  appointment.  He  thought  he 
might  wish  to  restrict  his  practice  to  particular  cases, 
and  to  pass  some  time  in  writing.  He  stated  further, 
that,  if  the  doctor  did  not  wish  to  reside  in  New 
York,  the  delivery  of  a  few  lectures  would  be  desira 
ble,  and  that  Dr.  Post  would  assist.  Various  other 
gentlemen  called  upon  him  to  offer  him  inducements 
to  accept  the  election. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  he  arrived  safely  at  his  house 
in  Park  Street. 

While  at  Liverpool,  in  1837,  Dr.  Warren  read  a 
paper  before  the  British  Association,  giving  "  Some 
Remarks  on  the  Crania  of  the  Mound  Indians  of  the 
Interior  of  North  America,  as  compared  with  the 
Crania  of  the  South- American  Indians  of  Peru." 

He  gave  an  account  of  his  accidentally  coming  into 
possession  of  a  singular  skull  many  years  ago,  which 
was  traced  as  coming  from  a  cavern  on  the  top  of  an 
almost  inaccessible  rock,  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio 
River.  It  was  supposed  to  belong  to  a  race  whose 


1838.]  AMERICAN    CRANIA.  329 

bones  were  found  deposited  in  the  mounds  in  the 
interior  of  North  America.  These  mounds  were 
found  in  nearly  inaccessible  forests,  covered  with 
immense  trees,  denoting  their  extreme  antiquity. 
They  were  intended  partly  for  the  purpose  of  inter 
ment,  partly  as  places  of  worship  ;  and  an  excavation 
on  their  summit  probably  was  the  spot  where  human 
sacrifices  were  made. 

Dr.  Warren  found  a  remarkable  resemblance  be 
tween  these  skulls  and  those  of  the  ancient  Peruvians ; 
showing  that  the  two  races,  though  a  thousand  to 
fifteen  hundred  miles  apart,  with  other  nations  inter 
vening,  were  of  one  origin.  The  American  Indians, 
he  thought,  had  emanated  from  two  sources,  —  one 
from  the  south  part  of  America,  the  other  from  the 
North-west  Coast.  He  intimated  that  there  had  been 
observed  some  resemblance  between  the  heads  de 
scribed  and  those  of  the  Hindoo  race. 

The  communication  was  received  very  favorably, 
and  a  vote  of  thanks  was  unanimously  passed. 

A  fuller  account  of  this  paper  may  be  found  in  the 
"  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal "  for  Novem 
ber,  1837. 

In  his  able  and  concise  Memoir  of  Dr.  Warren, 
read  to  the  Society  of  Natural  History  in  December, 
1856,  Dr.  Wyman  says,  — 

"  I  believe  some  credit  belongs  to  him,  as  being 
among  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  to  point  out  on  anato 
mical  grounds  the  probability  of  another  and  more 
advanced  race  having  existed  in  the  Western  country 

42 


330  LETTER  FROM  DR.  ROOTS.        [^Ex.  60. 

previous  to  those  who  were  found  there  at  the  time  it 
was  discovered  and  explored  by  the  Europeans." 

It  will  be  observed  in  the  above  paper,  that  Dr. 
Warren  set  forth  no  claims  before  a  British  audience, 
as  he  might  have  done,  to  a  discovery.  He  simply 
stated  anatomical  facts  which  had  come  under  his 
own  observation,  leaving  it  to  others  to  form  conclu 
sions  or  build  up  theories  upon  the  interesting  sub 
ject  of  the  origin  of  the  American  races. 


Dr.  Roots  to  Dr.  Warren. 

MY  DEAR  OLD  FRIEND,  —  By  a  chain  of  accidental  cir 
cumstances,  I  have  discovered  that  my  much-valued  old 
friend  and  colleague,  John  Collins  Warren,  M.D.,  &c.,  &c., 
but  with  a  title  still  much  stronger,  —  namely,  the  original 
friend  of  that  old  eccentric  animal,  William  Roots,  in  his 
earliest  years,  —  is,  at  this  present  moment,  in  the  little  dirty 
mole-hill  of  a  spot  called  Great  Britain.  Should  this  letter 
by  happy  chance  meet  with  you,  and  should  you  be  induced 
before  you  leave  England  to  visit  London,  I  hope  and  trust 
you  will  let  me  know  of  your  arrival ;  as,  I  assure  you,  it 
will  give  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  see  at  my  cabin,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Thames,  one  that  I  valued  so  highly  in  my 
younger  years. 

You  will  find  me  grown  very  old,  gray,  and  bald-headed  ; 
but  you  will  find  me  with  a  heart  as  young  and  as  warm  as 
ever  to  meet  the  kind  society  of  my  earliest  days.  In  short, 
Warren,  if  you  should  come  to  London,  arid  should  not  let 
me  know  of  your  arrival,  never  expect  to  meet  me  on 
friendly  terms  in  the  third  or  other  world. 


1838.]  LETTER    FROM    LONDON.  331 

With  kindest  feelings  of  recollections  and  regards,  believe 
me  always 

Your  sincere  and  fast  old  friend, 

Wm.  Roots! 

SUKBITON,  KINGSTON  UPON  THAMES,  Sept.  10,  1837. 


Extract  from  a  Letter  from  London. 

AUGUST,  1837. 

I  wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  give  my  friends  at  home  some 
notion  of  the  advances  our  science  has  made  in  this  country  ; 
but  they  run  into  every  department  of  the  profession,  and 
are,  of  course,  so  numerous  that  I  cannot  describe  them. 
To  understand,  you  must  see  them.  It  is  no  discredit  to 
our  country  that  we  do  not  keep  pace  with  Europe  in  the 
improvement  of  physical  science.  The  division  of  labor, 
the  high  rewards  of  successful  industry,  but,  above  all,  the 
collision  and  comparison  of  opinions  between  the  master 
spirits  of  the  day,  give  to  Europe  advantages  which  America 
cannot  expect  to  attain  at  present.  We  are,  however, 
advancing  so  rapidly,  that  we  shall  not  be  far  behind  them. 

Among  the  most  active  and  successful  cultivators  of 
science  is  Dr.  Arnott,  the  inventor  of  the  water-bed.  The 
sofa  on  which  we  sat  at  his  house  was  of  the  same  descrip 
tion  ;  and  I  would  state  for  the  information  of  any  one  who 
may  have  occasion  to  use  the  water-beds,  that  the  water  in 
this  sofa  had  not  been  changed  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
was  perfectly  sweet  at  the  time  I  saw  it. 

Sir  Astley  Cooper  continues  to  be  one  of  the  most  zealous 
and  successful  cultivators  of  anatomical  and  pathological 
science.  Having  acquired  an  ample  fortune,  he  has  no 
occasion  to  submit  to  the  laborious  and  responsible  duties 


332  LETTER    FROM    LONDON.  [JET.  60. 

of  the  profession ;  but  he  is  ready  at  stated  hours  to  give 
advice  to  those  who  apply,  both  at  his  own  house  and  in  the 
town.  He  rises  early,  and  employs  two  or  three  hours  in 
anatomical  and  surgical  investigations  before  breakfast ; 
afterwards  he  receives  patients  at  his  house  till  two ;  then 
visits  till  six  or  seven,  —  the  common  hour  of  dinner. 
And  when  he  entertains,  which  he  frequently  does,  the 
evening  is  devoted  to  his  friends ;  and  when  not,  he  com 
mits  to  writing  what  he  has  seen  in  the  day.  He  does 
not  regularly  attend  any  hospital ;  though,  as  consulting 
surgeon  of  Guy's,  he  is  ready  to  visit  when  he  can  be 
useful ;  and  his  attendance  is  hailed  with  pleasure  by  the 
surgeons,  as  a  gratifying  occurrence.  You  may  ask,  per 
haps,  what  subjects  he  investigates.  He  told  me  he  was 
employed  in  studying  the  anatomy  of  the  female  breast,  as 
a  preparation  to  his  work  on  the  malignant  diseases  of  that 
organ.  When  he  intends  to  publish,  he  did  not  say  ;  proba 
bly  it  may  be  some  time  first.  The  researches  necessary  to 
elucidate  this  subject  require  frequent  injections  and  dissec 
tions.  His  injections  are  among  the  most  beautiful  and 
fortunate  which  now  exist.  Those  of  the  thymus  gland 
finely  illustrate  the. anatomy  of  this  organ,  and  go  far  to 
establish  its  physiology.  As  an  example  of  his  great  indus 
try  and  insuperable  perseverance,  I  will  state  a  fact.  He 
accidentally  came  in  possession  of  the  whole  viscera  of  the 
thorax  and  abdomen,  exhibiting  phenomena  which  are  rare, 
and  of  which  there  is  no  existing  preparation.  Sir  Astley 
determined  to  inject,  and  preserve  this  as  a  dried  prepara 
tion.  The  labor  in  securing  the  thousand  small  wounded 
vessels  did  not  deter  him.  He  succeeded  in  injecting  and 
preserving  all  the  organs,  even  the  liver,  in  a  dried  state  ; 
and  produced  an  invaluable  preparation,  which  may  last  for 
centuries.  This  distinguished  person  is  now  in  Edinburgh, 


1838.]  MEDICAL    MEN.  333 

the  first  time  for  fifty  years,  and  has  been  received  with 
great  cordiality  by  the  profession  ;  and  a  public  dinner  is  to 
be  given  to  him  by  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons. 

The  number  of  distinguished  men  in  London  is  so  great, 
that  I  am  doubtful  of  the  propriety  of  speaking  of  any  indi 
vidual  ;  aware,  as  I  am,  of  the  impossibility  of  doing  justice 
to  the  characters  of  such  men  in  a  few  words.  The  editor  of 
the  Works,  and  author  of  the  Biography,  of  Dr.  Armstrong, 
is  almost  as  well  known  in  our  country  as  in  England.  In 
this  he  holds  a  high  reputation,  both  as  an  author  and  as  a 
man  of  science.  And,  to  show  the  standing  that  he  occupies 
here,  it  is  sufficient  to  mention  that  he  has  lately  been 
selected  as  one  of  the  governors  of  the  new  university. 

The  friend  of  Dr.  Boott  —  Dr.  James  Clark,  since  Sir 
James  Clark  —  is  also  well  known  in  our  country.  Dr. 
Clark  is  the  author  of  the  best  treatise  on  consumption 
which  we  have  in  the  language,  —  a  work  which  places  the 
prevention  and  treatment  of  this  great  enemy  of  our  race 
in  a  more  distinct  light  and  on  a  more  rational  plan  than 
any  other.  Every  physician  and  every  student  should  read 
it ;  and  they  will  there  find  all  they  require  to  conduct  them 
in  those  practical  pursuits,  for  which  no  reading  can  be  a 
substitute.  Dr.  Clark  is  a  person  whose  character  and 
manners  excite  extraordinary  interest  in  those  who  meet 
him.  Quiet  and  retiring  in  manner,  yet  whatever  he  says 
shows  thought  and  good  judgment.  He  is  now  physician  to 
the  Queen,  and  has  reposed  in  him  a  high  degree  of  con 
fidence  by  distinguished  persons 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


334:  LETTER    FROM    PARIS.  yE'r.  GO. 


Extract  from  a  Letter  from  Paris. 

PARIS,  Dec.  30,  1837. 

The  hospitals  of  Paris  are  much  improved  of  late  years. 
The  Hdtel  Dieu  was  formerly  made  to  contain  five  or 
six  thousand  patients :  now,  the  number  does  not  exceed 
twelve  hundred.  The  wards  are  very  large,  perfectly  clean, 
and  as  rarely  present  disagreeable  effluvia  as  any  rooms, 
containing  a  large  collection  of  human  beings,  could  be 
expected  to  do.  But,  although  every  thing  appears  fair,  the 
mortality  in  these  wards,  especially  after  surgical  opera 
tions,  is  much  greater  than  in  private  houses.  This  is  a 
general  fact  in  hospitals ;  and  the  extent  of  its  application, 
other  things  being  equal,  is  proportionate  to  the  number  of 
persons  placed  in  one  enclosure.  Small  hospitals  are, 
therefore,  more  healthy  than  large  ;  and  private  houses  more 
so  than  hospitals.  Among  the  physicians  of  the  Hotel  Dieu, 
there  is  none  so  well  known  with  us,  and  none  so  highly 
esteemed,  as  M.  Louis,  the  celebrated  author  of  the  appli 
cation  of  the  numerical  method  to  observations  on  fevers, 
with  the  view  of  ascertaining,  with  arithmetical  precision, 
the  phenomena  which  belong  to  this  important  disease.  I 
was  introduced  to  him  at  the  Hfttel  Dieu  in  the  morning. 
When  I  approached  the  bed  where  he  was  making  his  visit 
with  the  aid  of  a  dimly  burning  candle,  towering  in  the 
midst  of  the  pupils,  I  saw  a  tall,  upright  man,  with  a  coun 
tenance  rather  pale,  bearing  the  marks  of  sagacity  and  deep 
reflection.  He  was  intently  occupied  with  his  patient,  and 
seemed  to  be  conscious  of  nothing  but  what  related  to  him. 
His  inquiries  were  very  minute ;  and,  when  the  patient 
gave  him  doubtful  answers  (which  he  frequently  did),  he 
repeated  the  questions  until  he  received  definite  answers. 
Although  his  questions  were  rapidly  asked,  the  investiga- 


1838.]  HOSPITALS.  335 

tion  was  long  before  he  became  satisfied  that  he  had 
possession  of  all  the  important  facts.  He  then  gave  to  the 
students  a  brief  abstract  of  the  history  of  the  case,  his 
opinion  as  to  its  nature,  and  terminated  with  a  prescription. 
As  he  left  the  bed,  and  I  was  presented  to  him  by  my 
friend,  his  countenance  relaxed,  and  he  received  me  with 
the  greatest  politeness.  As  I  walked  round  with  him,  he 
made  known  the  nature  of  all  the  interesting  cases,  and 
encouraged  me  to  question  him,  and  to  make  such  remarks 
as  occurred  to  me.  Since  then,  I  have  frequently  visited  with 
him,  and  always  with  gratification.  The  interest  is  most 
deep  when  a  new  patient  is  presented,  as  then  the  character  of 
the  disease  is  to  be  made  out.  As  all  the  cases  are  carefully 
recorded,  such  a  mode  of  investigating  the  diseases  must 
afford  a  mass  of  knowledge.  The  difficulty  in  bringing  out 
useful  results  from  such  a  multitude  of  observations  lies  in 
the  successive  application  of  synthetical  and  analytical  rea 
soning  to  the  cases.  In  private  conversations  I  had  with  M. 
Louis,  he  explained  to  me  his  mode  of  drawing  his  induc 
tions  ;  which  appeared  to  me  to  be  a  practical  mode  of  exact 
philosophizing.  It  is  not  in  my  power  to  give  a  correct 
notion  of  it ;  but,  for  the  satisfaction  of  those  who  may  wish 
to  have  some  idea  of  his  method,  I  will  state,  that,  1.  From 
the  journal  of  diseases,  containing,  for  example,  sixty 
cases,  he  made  a  table,  at  the  head  of  which  were  placed 
all  the  principal  symptoms  of  the  disease ;  in  separate 
columns,  and  on  the  left  hand  of  the  table,  the  list  of 
patients ;  then  in  each  column  was  placed  the  character  of 
each  symptom  in  each  patient.  This  table  was  of  extraor 
dinary  extent.  2.  From  the  first  table  another  was  then 
made,  in  which  were  brought  together  the  symptoms  of 
each  of  the  columns,  showing  the  number  of  cases  in  which 
any  particular  symptom  occurred.  The  labor  necessary  to 


336  LETTER    FROM    PARIS.  [M'f.  60. 

accomplish  such  a  work  is  immense ;  and  I  should  have 
found  it  difficult  to  conceive  of  it,  had  I  not  seen  the  tables 
themselves.  As,  however,  the  whole  of  these  tables  and 
inferences  are  based  on  correct  observation,  the  first  step 
in  the  process  is  to  observe  with  accuracy.  The  manner  in 
which  this  is  to  be  done  is  stated  with  exactness  in  a  paper 
just  published  by  M.  Louis,  in  the  first  volume  of  "  Memoirs 
of  the  Medical  Society  of  Observation."  You  wish  to 
know  how  I  have  been  received  here.  In  reply,  it  gives  me 
pleasure  to  say,  that  every  facility  has  been  aiforded  me  for 
obtaining  the  information  I  wish,  and  all  possible  kindness 
shown  in  public  and  in  private.  The  surgeons,  in  going- 
round  the  wards,  call  for  me  at  every  interesting  case,  often 
request  me  to  examine  the  patient,  and  ask  my  opinion.  If 
it  does  not  accord  with  theirs,  we  have  a  discussion.  At 
the  surgical  operations,  I  am  always  placed  near  the  table, 
and  sometimes  assist  the  operator.  At  the  lectures,  the 
professor  always  offers  me  a  chair  by  his  side.  In  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Medicine,  they  have  more  than  once  favored 
me  with  an  honorable  notice.  I  mention  these  facts  with 
more  pleasure,  because  I  had  been  informed  that  the  French 
were  very  careless  in  regard  to  foreigners.  But  I  must  say, 
that  their  professional  attentions  and  private  hospitalities 
are  such  as  must  be  most  gratifying  and  satisfactory  to  a 
stranger. 

Accept  the  assurances  of  respect 

From  your  friend  and  servant,  &c., 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


1838.]  CHERVIN.  337 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

Dr.  M.  Chervin  visited  the  United  States  and  the  West 
Indies  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  the  facts  relating  to 
the  contagious  quality  of  yellow-fever.  He  brought  me 
letters  from  Paris,  and  requested  me  to  aid  in  the  prosecu 
tion  of  his  inquiries  here.  Afterwards  I  procured  for  him 
various  papers  relating  to  the  yellow-fever,  and  wrote  a 
memorial  on  the  subject  myself.  In  consequence  of  this, 
he  nominated  me  to  the  Royal  Academy  of  Medicine  as  a 
corresponding  member;  which  was  the  first  instance  of 
a  member  being  elected  from  this  part  of  the  country. 
When  I  went  to  Paris  in  1837,  he  was  very  useful  to  me. 
He  was  excessively  poor,  scarcely  having  bread  to  eat ;  but 
some  of  his  medical  friends  lent  him  money  to  prosecute  his 
researches  on  yellow-fever  and  other  contagious  diseases. 
His  labors  effected  a  great  revolution  in  France  ultimately. 
The  French  were  all  desperate  contagionists  ;  but,  owing 
principally  to  his  labors,  a  movement  was  begun,  which  did 
not  stop  till  it  had  wrought  a  general  change  of  sentiment, 
which  has  produced  a  great  influence  on  the  rest  of  Europe. 
He  died  in  1847,  and  left  a  will,  in  which,  commenting  in  a 
touching  manner  on  the  neglect  and  poverty  in  which  he 
had  lived  and  died,  he  decreed  his  debts  to  his  country. 


338  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [>ET.  60. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


COMMENCEMENT   OF  A  DOMESTIC  JOURNAL. 

DR.  WARREN  reached  home  the  last  of  August. 
With  a  very  slight  pause,  he  immediately  resumed 
his  labors ;  and  we  find  him  full  as  busy  in  profes 
sional  pursuits  as  ever.  He  now,  however,  devoted 
less  time  to  the  daily  routine  of  professional  visits, 
but  more  to  the  scientific  improvement  of  medicine, 
and  subjects  connected  with  it.  Sept.  1,  he  com 
menced  what  he  designates  as  a  domestic  journal ; 
and  this  he  continued,  with  very  little  intermission, 
until  within  a  few  of  the  last  days  of  his  life. 

Some  extracts  from  this  journal  will  serve  to  show 
the  subjects  of  his  thoughts,  and  the  various  occupa 
tions  in  which  he  was  now  engaged.  A  very  large 
portion  of  the  whole  journal  consists  of  an  account 
of  medical  cases,  operations  performed,  modes  of 
operating,  &c.,  which  are  omitted  here,  as  out  of 
place  in  the  present  work. 

1838.  —  Commenced  a  journal,  Sept.  1. 

Yesterday  finished  my  European  journal.  Resolved  to 
try  to  keep  a  domestic  one,  without  much  hopes  of  suc 
cess. 


1838.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  339 

Having  seen  my  family  friends,  called  on  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
,  and  found  them  in  a  good  state  of  health.    Visited  my 


horses ;  and,  in  the  evening,  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Fa 
culty.  Had  a  long  conversation  on  European  matters,  and 
was  appointed  to  deliver  the  Introductory  to  the  courses.  I 
proposed  to  lengthen  the  courses  to  four  months ;  which  was 
favorably  received,  but  could  not  be  adopted  at  present. 

Sept.  2,  Sunday.  —  After  service,  looked  over  my  old 
papers,  and  found  my  impressions,  on  comparison,  not 
changed. 

Sept.  4.  —  Visited  the  Hospital  for  the  first  time.  It 
looks  remarkably  neat  and  well. 

Sept.  5.  —  In  the  evening,  had  a  conversation  with  Mr. 
Abbott  Lawrence  on  the  subject  of  a  Repository  of  Arts. 
Must  see  him  again  in  two  or  three  days. 

Sept.  6.  —  Examined  my  instruments  from  Europe,  and 
found  them  in  good  order. 

Sept.  8.  — Attended  a  meeting  of  Directors  of  the  Bun 
ker-Hill  Monument  Association,  and  made  some  remarks 
with  a  view  to  prevent  the  building  of  houses  on  the  battle 
ground  ;  which  were  well  received :  but  I  fear  there  is  little 
hope  of  accomplishing  this  prevention.  However,  a  com 
mittee  was  chosen  to  see  what  sacrifices  the  landholders 
were  willing  to  make. 

Dined  at  Governor  Winthrop's,  and  attempted  to  show 
the  folly  of  animal  magnetism.  Judge  Story  and  Governor 
Everett  concerned. 

We  also  had  an  important  conversation  on  the  formation 
of  an  American  Association ;  and  are  to  meet  on  Friday,  at 
twelve,  to  discuss  the  subject. 

Sept.  13.  —  First  meeting  of  Temperance  Council.  Great 
change  of  affairs  this  last  year. 

Sept.  14.  —  In  consequence  of  orders  from  the  Bunker- 


340  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [JE'f.  GO. 

Hill  Monument  Association,  made  an  agreement  with  T.  B. 
Wales  to  suspend  the  work  thereon. 

Sept.  15.  —  Met  Judge  Story  and  Governor  Everett  at 
the  Academy's  room,  to  discuss  the  formation  of  an  Ameri 
can  Association  for  the  Promotion  of  Science.  After  many 
plans  for  opening  the  business  had  been  suggested,  agreed 
to  request  a  gentleman  in  Philadelphia  to  sound  the  feelings 
of  American  Philosophical  Society. 

Sept,  23.  —  Wrote  letters  for  M.  to  the  South  ;  a 
letter  to  Dr.  Homer,  on  forming  an  American  Institu 
tion. 

Oct.  1,  P.M.  —  Visited  an  old  friend,  and  had  a  pretty 
serious  talk.  Discussion  of  the  advantages  of  aristocracy 
and  democracy ;  on  too  much  attention  to  public  opinion, 
instead  of  conscience ;  and  various  other  important  topics. 

Oct.  6.  —  Last  evening,  had  a  second  meeting  of  private 
students  at  my  house.  Explained  to  them  the  anatomy  of 
the  ear,  and  gave  a  clinical  lecture  on  cases  in  the  Hos 
pital. 

Oct.  12.  —  Addressed  a  note  to  Governor  Everett  on  the 
British  Association,  proposing  a  meeting  with  him  and 
Judge  Story. 

Oct.  15.  —  Met  Governor  Everett  and  Judge  Story  on 
the  subject  of  an  American  Association  for  Advancement  of 
Science.  Decided  to  call  a  meeting  of  gentlemen  on  the 
subject  on  Saturday,  20th. 

Oct.  27. — Meeting  of  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
American  Association.  Decided  to  notify  the  American 
Philosophical  Society  of  our  proceedings,  and  to  invite 
scientific  gentlemen  to  co-operate. 

Oct.  30.  —  Wrote  a  circular  on  the  subject  of  the  British 
Association,  and  sent  it  to  the  printer,  ordering  fifty  copies. 

Nov.  7.  —  First  day  of  the  lectures.     Rose  early,  and 


1838.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  341 

read  over  my  Introductory  aloud.  Every  time  I  read  it,  I 
find  many  corrections  to  be  made,  especially  when  it  is  read 
aloud.  Although  finished  a  month  ago,  found  many  correc 
tions  and  additions,  which  pressed  me  for  time  to  the  last 
minute.  Went  to  the  College  at  half-past  nine,  passed  an 
hour  and  a  half  in  preparing  plates,  <fcc.,  and  then  looked 
over  my  lecture. 

Nov.  8.  —  At  six,  P.M.,  attended  the  dinner  given  by  the 
physicians  to  Dr.  Jackson  and  myself.  Dr.  Bigelow  presided 
with  great  spirit  and  effect. 

Dr.  Jackson  made  an  interesting  speech,  and  referred  to 
our  early  acquaintance.  I  replied,  and  made  another,  half 
an  hour  long.  Dr.  Reynolds  made  a  fine  speech.  The 
occasion  was  most  interesting.  We  were  kept  till  twelve, 
midnight. 

Completed  one  book  of  this  journal,  contrary  to  my 
expectation  when  I  began. 

Dec.  3.  —  Subscribed,  by  Dr.  Morton's  request,  to  his 
work  on  Crania ;  he  offering  to  give  me  the  copy,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  service  rendered  him  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
work. 

Dec.  22.  —  Had  some  conversation  with  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Channing  on  the  subject  of  a  meeting  for  the  promotion  of 
science.  He  is  quite  favorable  to  it,  and  wrote  me  a  letter 
on  the  subject  directly  after. 

Dec.  23.  —  To-day,  came  to  a  conclusion  on  two  subjects : 
1.  To  attempt  the  formation  of  a  scientific  meeting  here  ;  2. 
To  decline  being  churchwarden  again. 

1839,  Jan.  1.  —  Rose  before  seven;  rather  earlier  than 
usual,  but  not  so  early  as  my  ancient  habits  prescribed. 

Made  various  arrangements  before  breakfast,  which  was 
exactly  at  eight.  Read  about  an  hour  on  the  subject  of  my 
lecture,  — the  nerves.  Made  three  visits  ;  went  to  the  Medi- 


342  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [>ET.  61. 

cal  College ;  afterwards  one  visit.  Went  out  at  four,  and 
visited  till  seven,  partly  on  foot.  It  is  now  four  months 
since  I  got  home.  I  have  not,  owing  to  the  kindness  of 
Providence,  experienced  a  single  catarrh  since  my  return  ; 
a  very  long  period  for  me.  This  may  be  attributed,  1.  To 
change  of  climate  ;  2.  To  constant  foot-exercise  ;  3.  To  dip 
ping  the  feet  in  cold  water,  and  much  friction. 

Made  a  number  of  visits,  did  a  difficult  dissection  of  the 
nerves,  and  lectured. 

Jan.  2.  —  Studied  the  physiology  of  the  nerves  ;  have 
had  hard  work  with  this  subject.  Company  at  dinner,  Rev. 
Dr.  Stone.  Agreed  to  give  the  Hospital  Reports  to  a  new 
medical  journal. 

Feb.  5.  —  Last  evening,  attended  the  opening  of  the  new 
vestry-room,  or  chapel,  of  St.  Paul's.  Interesting  services  by 
Dr.  Stone.  Afterwards  walked  down  to  Mr.  C.'s.  Weather 
very  cold  and  windy.  Between  nine  and  ten,  came  home 
much  fatigued.  This  proved  my  last  visit  to  Mr.  C.,  who 
had  been  my  father's  and  my  patient  more  than  forty  years. 
He  died  of  organic  disease  of  the  heart,  and  too  much 
stimulus,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  Has  had  an  intermit 
tent  pulse  fifteen  years,  and  lately  so  indistinct  as  to  be 
scarcely  perceptible. 

Feb.  8.  —  Mocking-bird  began  to  sing  three  or  four  days 
since.  Is  quite  sprightly,  and  has  a  variety  of  notes. 

Last  evening,  at  half-past  six,  dined,  by  invitation,  witli 
Society  for  Medical  Improvement.  Gave  an  account  of 
Cloquet. 

March  6.  —  Attended  a  meeting  of  the  Natural-History 
Society  with  much  pleasure. 

In  evening,  Mr.  Otis,  translator  of  Botta,  made  me  a  visit. 
Read  the  preface  to  a  translation  of  the  Tusculan  Conversa 
tions,  which  he  is  to  publish. 


1839.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  343 

March  15.  —  Went  out  early  to  see  Mr.  Pickering  on  the 
subject  of  appearing  before  a  Committee  of  Legislature  about 
carrying  water. 

Evening,  a  meeting  at  my  house,  of  forty  gentlemen,  on 
the  subject  of  promoting  physical  science.  Read  to  them  a 
communication  from  the  American  Philosophical  Society, 
one  from  Professor  Silliman,  one  from  Rev.  Dr.  Charming, 
&c.  Showed  the  microscope  and  various  skeletons. 

May  26,  27. —  Bad  eyes;  can't  write. 

June  6.  —  Inflammation  of  eyes  by  dissecting  a  putrid 
subject,  and  using  chlorine  gas.  Rupture  of  a  vessel  in  left 
eye ;  better  to-day. 

June  17.  —  Attended  Bunker-Hill  Monument  Association. 

july  4.  —  Went  to  Temperance  Celebration  at  half-past 
twelve.  Procession  ;  dinner  at  half-past  two  ;  broke  up  at 
seven.  Things  went  off  well.  Near  fifteen  hundred  per 
sons  present.  Got  home  soon  after  eight. 

July  13.  —  With  Mr.  Guild,  went  to  the  Agricultural 
Society's  meeting,  at  Mr.  Phinney's,  in  Lexington.  Mr. 
Phinney  showed  us  his  peat-meadows  converted  into  pas 
ture  ;  fine  fruit-trees,  apples,  pigs,  and  cattle,  of  the  finest. 

July  30.  —  Last  evening,  the  worthy  magistrates  of 
Brookline  proposed  to  wheel  the  old  schoolhouse  through 
my  land,  cutting  down  trees,  breaking  walls,  &c. 

Called  on  Miss  A.  Had  a  conversation  on  the  

affair,  in  which  she  advised  me  not  to  meddle  in  the  matter. 
Good  advice,  and  such  as  few  friends  would  have  ventured 
to  give. 

Aug.  5.  —  Had  a  severe  attack  yesterday  while  riding 
on  horseback.  Suffered  great  pain  till  I  went  to  bed. 
Took  some  hot  drink,  on  the  idea  that  the  disorder  was 
in  part  caused  by  not  drinking  sufficiently.  To-day,  slightly 
affected.  Took  a  solution  of  gum  arabic,  with  chloric 


344  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [Jvf.  61. 

ether.  Drank  some  Balston  or  Saratoga  water  to  dilute. 
Took  a  warm  bath.  The  last  attack  as  severe  as  this 
was  fourteen  years  ago,  on  the  day  of  the  anniversary 
celebration  of  Lexington  fight,  at  Concord,  in  1825  ;  during 
which  day  I  suffered  much,  and  have  occasionally  at  other 
times. 

Aug.  24.  —  Reports  of  a  case  of  malignant  cholera  in 
Tremont  Street. 

Sept.  15.  —  Captain  Cook,  operated  upon  for  extirpation 
of  half  the  lower  jaw,  well,  and  has  scarcely  a  scar. 

Gave  one  hundred  and  fifty  drops  tr.  opii,  in  addition  to 
ten  grains  of  opium  given  an  hour  before  the  operation ; 
did  not  make  him  sleepy. 

Oct.  20. — Keep  myself  warm  in  my  room  by  burning 
alcohol.  After  various  experiments,  find  burning  it  in  a 
small  pint  or  half-pint  tin  pot  most  convenient. 

Oct.  22.  —  Died  Dr.  ;  a  good  man,  with  a  bad 

temper. 

Nov.  5.  —  At  the  request  of  a  Committee  of  Trustees  of 
Massachusetts  General  Hospital,  agreed  to  their  having  a 
copy  of  the  Surgical  Records  made,  or  that  they  should  be 
left  to  the  hospital  at  my  decease. 

Nov.  16.  — A  case  of  admission  of  air  into  the  veins. 

Nov.  27.  —  Alarm  of  small-pox  increases.  Many  re- 
vaccinations. 

Dec.  2.  —  Subscribed  two  hundred  dollars  for  Cambridge 
Observatory. 

Dec.  8.  —  Received  a  visit  from  Mr.  Audubon. 

Dec.  21.  —  Last  evening,  at  Dr.  E.  W.'s.  Party  very 
gay ;  rather  above  my  mark,  as  I  suffer  from  a  rheu 
matic  affection,  consequent  upon  a  strain  produced  by 
lifting. 


1839.]  INTRODUCTORY    LECTURE.  345 

By  this  journal,  we  find  that  Dr.  Warren  engaged 
at  once  in  the  pursuits  to  which  he  had  determined  to 
devote  himself,  in  addition  to  labors  exclusively 
professional. 

He  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Faculty,  and  was 
appointed  to  deliver  the  Introductory  Lecture  on  the 
opening  of  the  course.  On  the  2d  of  September,  he 
visited  the  Hospital.  On  the  8th,  he  attended  a  meet 
ing  of  the  Bunker-Hill  Monument  Association,  and 
exerted  himself  very  strongly  in  behalf  of  what  had 
always  been  his  earnest  wish,  —  next  to  the  comple 
tion  of  the  Monument,  —  to  preserve  the  battle 
ground  free  from  buildings.  We  find  him  also 
discussing  a  project  for  the  formation  of  an  American 
Scientific  Association  with  Governor  Everett,  Judge 
Story,  and  others.  On  the  13th,  he  resumed  his 
temperance  labors  by  attending  a  meeting  of  the 
Council  of  the  Massachusetts  Temperance  Society. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  he  gave  his  Introductory 
Lecture  to  the  medical  class.  His  journal  shows,  in 
more  than  one  place,  the  labor  and  anxiety  which  he 
bestowed  upon  this  matter.  In  this  lecture,  he  gave 
an  account  of  the  results  he  had  obtained  from  his 
visit  to  Europe ;  comprising  a  view  of  science  abroad, 
and  of  the  various  improvements  in  physical  and  medi 
cal  science  with  which  he  had  become  acquainted. 

About  this  time  commenced  a  new  era  in  medi 
cine.  -  The  distinction  between  typhus  and  typhoid 
fever  was  then  in  embryo.  The  results  promulgated 
by  Marshall  Hall  were  new ;  and  there  was  much 

44 


346  INTRODUCTORY    LECTURE.  \.&T.  61. 

other  matter  of  novelty  just  started   into    existence, 
part  of  which  is  now  settled  matter  of  science. 

On  the  succeeding  day,  a  dinner  was  given,  by  the 
physicians  of  Boston,  to  Dr.  Warren  and  Dr.  Jack 
son.  It  was  very  fully  attended,  and  was  described 
universally,  by  those  present,  as  an  occasion  of  very 
great  interest  and  enjoyment. 

It  was  a  novelty  in  Boston.  A  dinner  had  never 
before  been  given  to  a  member  of  the  Medical  So 
ciety,  with  the  exception  of  Dr.  Holyoke,  of  Salem, 
on  his  centennial  anniversary.  A  full  account  of  this 
dinner  was  given  in  the  "  Boston  Medical  Journal," 
and  will  be  found  in  volume  xix.,  page  293,  of  that 
work. 

In  reviewing  Dr.  Warren's  labors  from  the  time  of 
his  return,  there  is  one  thing  that  strikes  us  forcibly, 
and  which  is  confirmed  by  every  succeeding  page  of 
this  Memoir,  as  well  as  by  what  has  gone  before. 

This  is,  his  tenacity  of  purpose.  In  engaging  in  a 
new  object  of  interest,  though  entering  upon  it  with 
an  apparently  all-absorbing  ardor,  he  never  neglects 
or  loses  sight  of  former  objects.  Thus,  immediately 
on  his  return  from  Europe  in  1802,  we  find  him 
engaged  in  an  analysis  of  the  Boston  water,  and 
showing  the  pernicious  effects  of  it.  We  find  him 
continuing  his  exertions  in  after-years  on  this  subject, 
and  never  abandoning  it  until  he  finally  witnessed  the 
introduction  of  the  Cochituate  water  into  the  city  of 
Boston.  In  the  same  manner,  he  engaged,  on  his  first 
return  from  Europe  in  1802,  in  a  scientific  society. 


1839.]  TENACITY    OF    PURPOSE.  347 

His  constant  medical  occupations  caused  him  neces 
sarily  to  lay  aside  this  and  other  similar  objects  of 
interest  for  a  number  of  years ;  but,  the  moment  his 
retirement  from  the  active  daily  routine  of  profes 
sional  life  permitted,  we  find  him  laboring  with 
greater  earnestness  than  ever  to  excite  interest  in 
general  science.  So,  also,  his  early  love  of  the  coun 
try,  —  though  for  years  very  rarely  indulged,  —  and 
his  interest  in  agriculture,  never  abandoned  him. 
The  pleasure  which  he  describes  himself  as  enjoying, 
when  a  schoolboy,  from  his  semi-weekly  visits  to 
Jamaica  Plain,  he  evinced  equally  in  1825,  1830, 
during  his  most  busy  career. 

So  in  regard  to  the  Temperance  cause.  From  his 
first  connection  with  the  society,  almost  to  his  last 
breath,  his  ardor  in  the  cause  went  on  with  still 
increasing  earnestness.  His  love  for  the  military  art, 
and  every  thing  connected  with  it,  never  declined. 
We  find  him,  within  a  year  before  his  death,  ordering 
an  elegant  pair  of  improved  revolvers  from  England. 
Though  strictly  avoiding  politics  while  pursuing  his 
professional  course,  we  see  him,  in  1850,  presiding 
at  a  political  meeting  in  Fanueil  Hall,  and  speaking 
with  great  warmth  and  earnestness  in  behalf  of  what 
he  considered  the  true  welfare  of  his  fellow-citizens 
and  his  country.  We  find  him  at  this  period  mixing 
in  a  mob,  with  the  same  spirit  as  in  England  in 
1800,  and  offering  his  services  to  the  mayor  in 
support  of  order. 

The  remarkable  feature  of  all  this  varied  interest 


348  PHYSICIAN'S  NOTE-BOOK.  [>ET.  ei. 

is,  that  he  never  allowed  other  pursuits  to  distract  his 
attention  from  his  profession,  —  even  from  the  time 
when  he  began  to  devolve  his  labors  upon  his  son. 
Improvement  of  medical  and  surgical  science  and  art 
was  always  his  first  object,  his  main  business  through 
life ;  evinced,  after  death,  in  his  final  legacy  to  the 
profession,  by  which  he  should  still  continue  to  afford 
instruction  in  his  physical  form.  It  may  truly  be 
said,  that  a  subject,  once  earnestly  taken  up  by  him, 
he  never  let  slip  from  his  grasp. 

It  is  a  matter  of  melancholy  interest  to  find  in  the 
journal,  as  we  pass  on,  the  record  of  the  death  of  an 
old  patient,  —  as  on  Feb.  5  ;  one  who  had  been  a 
patient  of  the  father  and  son  for  over  forty  years, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  How  much  of  a 
man's  history  may  be  conveyed  to  the  mind  by  a  few 
short  lines  in  a  physician's  note-book!  Miss  Lee 
founded  her  "  Canterbury  Tales "  upon  the  brief 
register  of  the  arrival  and  departure  of  guests  at  a 
watering-place  boarding-house ;  but  how  much  more 
is  conveyed  in  a  physician's  record !  The  stranger 
may  pass  over  the  words  unheeding,  as  we  pass  by  the 
record  on  a  gravestone ;  the  poet  may  found  a  tale  of 
romance  upon  it :  but,  to  the  physician,  the  friend,  or 
acquaintance,  what  a  long  vista  of  human  life  is 
opened  at  once !  As  the  individual  in  the  "  Spectator," 
who  lived  through  a  long  life  during  an  instant's  im 
mersion  of  his  head  in  a  tub  of  water ;  so  do  these  few 
brief  words  present  a  long  picture  of  varying  hopes 
and  fears ;  the  sufferings  of  the  patient ;  his  alterna- 


1839.]  PHYSICIAN'S  NOTE-BOOK.  349 

tions  of  relief;  his  struggles  with  injurious  habits ; 
the  anxiety  and  hopes  of  the  wife  and  daughters  alter 
nately  depressed,  alternately  revived ;  the  narrow 
circumstances,  at  the  time  of  the  physician's  early 
attendance,  gradually  giving  way  to  comfort,  and 
finally  to  affluence  and  luxury,  obtained  by  careful 
industry ;  luxury,  and  want  of  occupation,  producing 
disease,  and,  eventually,  habits  of  excess  ;  sometimes 
broken  off  by  the  remonstrances  of  the  physician  and 
the  experience  of  suffering,  but  soon  resumed  to  a 
greater  degree  than  before. 

We  find  him  attending,  by  invitation,  a  dinner  of 
the  Medical  Improvement  Society;  next,  a  meeting 
of  the  Society  of  Natural  History  ;  after  which,  listen 
ing  to  the  reading  of  a  translation  by  Mr.  Otis,  who 
translated  Botta's  History ;  the  next  day,  visiting  Mr. 

P to    consult    about   the   introduction   of    pure 

water ;  and,  in  the  evening,  receiving  a  company  of 
forty  gentlemen  to  discuss  the  promotion  of  physical 
science.  On  the  17th  of  June  came  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Bunker-Hill  Monument  Society ;  and, 
on  the  Fourth  of  July,  the  celebration  of  the  Tem 
perance  Society,  —  nearly  eighteen  hundred  persons 
being  present.  On  the  13th,  a  meeting  of  the  Agri 
cultural  Society,  at  Lexington. 

On  the  26th  came  a  meeting  of  the  Consulting 
Physicians  of  Boston  to  designate  a  candidate  for 
the  South-Boston  institutions,  then  first  united  under 
a  resident  physician. 

The  other  records  of  his  journal  (which  are  omit- 


350  VARIOUS    OCCUPATIONS.  [^£T.  61. 

ted)  show  him  constantly  occupied  in  surgical  and 
medical  practice,  visiting  at  the  Hospital,  and  per 
forming  operations.  During  the  year  1839,  he  seems 
to  have  been  too  actively  employed  to  allow  him  to 
prepare  any  thing  for  publication. 

During  this  year,  he  became  an  active  member 
of  the  Agricultural  Society.  Of  his  connection 
with  this  society,  he  gives  the  following  account. 


1839.]  AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY.  351 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

IN  the  year  1839,  on  purchasing  my  country  place,  I  deter 
mined  not  to  lay  out  money  upon  it.  But,  in  that  year,  I 
was  chosen  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Agricultural  Society. 
This  led  me  to  give  some  attention  to  agricultural  siibjects ; 
and  I  read  through  a  number  of  works  on  botany,  vegetable 
physiology,  and  practical  agriculture.  In  the  year  1840, 1 
began  to  plant  the  Heath*  land,  principally  one  acre  on  the 
south  side  of  the  hill,  for  a  fruit-garden.  Being  then  more 
than  sixty  years  old,  I  had  little  expectation  of  getting  fruit ; 
and,  in  order  to  hurry  the  matter,  I  bought  a  few  large 
trees  in  full  bearing  from  Mr.  S.  G.  Perkins.  Three  of 
these  trees  cost  thirty  dollars  apiece ;  but  they  have  borne 
every  year  since  they  were  planted,  and  in  most  years  freely. 
I  bought  of  him  a  large  number  of  beautiful  plum-trees, 
which  have  grown  finely,  but  never  produced  any  fruit  of 
consequence,  owing  to  the  blight  of  the  curculio.  We  have 
applied  salt,  have  bricked  around  the  trees,  have  knocked 
off  and  destroyed  the  curculio,  syringed  the  trees  with 
whale-oil  soap,  and,  as  a  last  resource,  taken  up  the  soil  from 
many  of  them,  and  substituted  mud  from  the  salt  marshes. 
The  pear-trees  have  been  carefully  washed  with  alkali  once 

*  So  called  from  the  former  proprietor. 


352  AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY.  [^ET.  61. 

or  twice  a  year,  and  the  trunks  surrounded  with  ashes  to 
prevent  the  attacks  of  the  borer.  The  most  convenient  and 
valuable  crop  which  I  have  had  consists  of  grapes,  which  I 
have  found  very  useful  to  dispense  to  sick  persons  who 
could  not  get  them.  Both  peaches  and  plums  will  probably 
do  better  in  groups  than  singly,  like  other  fruit-trees.  I 
have  gradually  set  out  a  great  number  of  forest-trees,  which, 
as  yet,  do  not  make  much  show :  but,  if  I  had  known  what  I 
do  now,  I  should  have  planted  a  much  greater  number  at 
first,  —  say,  thousands ;  and  more  than  half  I  should  choose 
to  be  of  evergreens,  on  account  of  their  beauty,  and  the 
protection  they  afford  in  the  winter.  Among  the  ever 
greens,  the  best,  on  the  whole,  is  the  Norway  spruce.  Our 
native  hemlock  is  harder  to  grow,  but  more  beautiful,  than 
any  other  evergreen  in  common  use  ;  and  it  has  the  quality 
of  shading,  like  the  deciduous  trees.  The  beach  is  a  fine 
tree,  and  not  sufficiently  attended  to. 

For  two  or  three  years,  I  devoted  much  attention  to  the 
cultivation  of  corn,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  what  species 
produced  the  best  food.  So  far  as  my  observations  went, 
white  corn  was  more  easily  digested  than  yellow ;  and  I 
have  always  used  the  white  meal,  if  any.  The  Tuscarora 
variety  I  found  to  be  productive,  agreeable,  and  capable  of 
being  used  for  sweet  corn  as  well  as  other  purposes.  I  dis 
tributed  it  pretty  extensively  among  farmers.  Those  vege 
tables  which  are  not  much  in  use  I  have  endeavored  to 
cultivate ;  as  the  artichoke,  large  English  beans,  okra,  the 
egg-plant,  and  Brussels  sprouts.  The  soil  being  thin,  and 
underlaid  with  rock  for  the  most  part,  large  quantities  of 
manure  have  been  required.  The  first  year  I  owned  the 
place,  about  two  hundred  loads  were  necessary. 

The  old  trees,  which  looked  very  badly  for  want  of 
nourishment,  have  since  then  been  revived,  and  look  well, 


1839.]  AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY.  353 

except  where  the  soil  is  very  thin,  as  on  the  south,  near  the 
grape-houses.  I  have  used  the  nitrate  of  potash  as  a 
manure  on  about  two  acres  of  the  Heath  land,  with  good 
effect.  Other  experiments  with  manure  I  have  not  been 
been  able  to  make,  for  want  of  an  intelligent  and  attentive 
gardener,  most  of  them  being  infected  with  the  vice  of 
drunkenness. 

The  Heath  pasture,  although  excessively  stony,  has  done 
better  than  the  other,  producing  one  crop  of  potatoes  with 
out  any  manure  ;  and  the  vegetables  in  general  there  have 
done  well,  the  soil  being  new  and  well  cultivated :  so  that  I 
have  had  the  pleasure  of  making  two  blades  of  grass  grow 
where  one  grew  before.  I  got  the  plans  for  building  a 
cottage  there,  but  concluded  it  would  not  be  profitable  to 
attempt  to  sell  lots  at  present,  but  rather  to  wait  till  they 
were  in  demand.  It  is  rather  singular,  that,  out  of  half  a 
dozen  pieces  of  land,  three  have  been  invaded  by  public 
works,  and  a  fourth  threatens  to  be  so,  —  the  Hammond- 
Pond  wood-lot. 

In  the  Agricultural  Society,  I  have  done  considerable 
labor.  Some  years  ago,  I  first  proposed  that  a  premium 
should  be  given  for  the  best  Essay  on  Manures.  This 
excited  attention  to  the  subject,  and  brought  out  the  Essay 
of  Dr.  Dana,  on  the  manure  formed  by  fermenting  together 
peat  and  wood  ashes,  which  may  be  considered  as  the  most 
copious  source  of  manure  discovered  in  this  State.  The 
practical  improvements  in  manuring  in  this  State,  and  par 
ticularly  in  this  vicinity,  have  been  great. 

About  the  year  1845, 1  proposed  the  establishment  of  a 
model  farm  in  this  neighborhood.  This,  after  much  discus 
sion,  was  not  thought  practicable  at  the  present  time.  After 
wards  I  proposed  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Agricultural  Society 
to  pay  some  attention  to  the  horse.  Being  authorized  by 

45 


354  AGRICULTURAL    SOCIETY.  (>ET.  61. 

them,  I  wrote  to  Dr.  Edward  Brooks,  jun.,  who  was  then 
pursuing  his  medical  studies  in  Europe,  to  inform  him  that 
the  society  would  be  ready  to  pay  six  hundred  dollars  to 
him,  if  he  would  prepare  and  deliver  twelve  lectures  on  the 
anatomy  and  diseases  of  the  horse.  He  accepted  the  propo 
sition,  and  remained  in  Europe  two  additional  years  for  the 
purpose.  He  has  returned  home,  and  is  expected  to  begin 
his  lectures  in  February,  1850.  There  having  been  a  fine 
model,  showing  the  whole  anatomy  of  the  horse,  prepared 
by  Auzoux,  in  Paris,  I  prevailed  on  the  trustees  to  purchase 
this  at  the  price  of  six  hundred  dollars,  and  also  to  obtain 
the  skeleton  of  a  horse  and  of  a  cow.  In  the  winter  of 
1846,  I  gave  a  lecture,  in  the  Chamber  of  the  House  of 
^Representatives,  to  the  Legislative  Agricultural  Society  and 
others.  In  the  autumn  of  1849, 1  questioned  whether  the 
trustees  should  any  longer  continue  the  experiment  of 
keeping  and  breeding  a  pure  English  stock  of  cattle,  the 
experiment  having  been  continued  for  three  years.  I  was 
appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  to  investigate  the  mat 
ter,  and  make  report.  This  involved  considerable  labor, 
and  terminated  in  a  report  that  the  whole  stock  (about 
thirty)  should  be  sold  as  soon  as  convenient. 

The  practical  attention  I  have  been  able  to  give  to  agri 
culture  has  been  a  source  of  pleasure,  and,  I  presume,  of 
health,  especially  where  it  was  connected  with  the  idea 
of  some  public  utility.  The  satisfaction  has  been  somewhat 
marred  by  the  necessity  of  dining  in  company  once  a  month, 
and  the  consequent  derangement  of  health  from  the  irregu 
larity  this  dinner  involves.  Wine  at  these  dinners  I  have 
not  taken  for  some  years,  and  have  declined  offering  it  at 
the  parties  I  gave.  The  example  has  not  been  followed  by 
any  of  the  other  trustees,  except,  in  one  instance,  by  Mr. 
Quincy  ;  but  it  has  shown  that  a  pleasant  dinner  might  take 


1839.]  THE    HORSE.  355 

place  without  wine  or  any  stimulating  drink.  When  I 
determined  to  adopt  this  plan,  I  resigned  my  office  as  a 
trustee ;  but  the  Board  preferred  to  continue  me  in  office, 
and  give  up  the  wine  once  a  year. 


From  an  early  period,  I  had  an  attachment  for  the  horse. 
This  perhaps  originated  in  the  fact,  that  my  grandfather, 
whose  name  I  bear,  and  who  was  formerly  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island,  made  me  a  present  of  a  small  horse 
when  I  was  but  eight  years  old.  He  did  good  service  to 
my  father  and  myself  for  nearly  twenty  years.  I  used 
to  employ  him  to  ride  out  on  horseback  to  my  father's  place 
in  Roxbury. 

As  soon  as  I  got  into  practice,  I  purchased  a  horse  for 
saddle  and  harness,  and  visited  my  patients  in  town  on 
horseback,  as  my  father  did  the  greater  part  of  his  life  ; 
and,  two  or  three  times  a  week,  rode  out  to  Jamaica  Plain, 
or  elsewhere  in  the  country,  rarely  in  a  vehicle,  generally 
on  horseback.  After  a  number  of  years  of  hard  work  with 
one  horse,  I  was  obliged  to  get  a  second  ;  and  ultimately, 
when  my  family  grew  large,  to  increase  the  number  to  four, 
and  even  five. 

The  first  horse  I  owned,  independently  of  my  father, 
was  kept  by  an  excellent,  honest  man  in  Bromfield  Street, 
by  name  Israel  Trask.  He  dying  from  a  too  free  use  of 
the  hostler's  poison,  I  for  many  years  kept  my  horses  with 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Gurney,  also  in  Bromfield  Street, 
who  was  a  temperate  man,  exceeding  honest,  but  remark 
ably  intractable.  However,  I  got  on  with  him ;  and  finally 
he  removed  to  the  country.  From  him  I  went  to  Zeph. 
Spurr,  also  in  Bromfield  Street.  He  was  the  most  famous 


356  THE    HORSE.  [JEl.  61. 

horse-keeper  in  his  time,  and  not  far  from  being  the  largest 
man  in  town.  From  his  youthful  face,  he  was  called  the 
Infant  Spurr.  He  kept  at  the  corner  of  Bromfield  and 
Province  Streets,  in  a  very  fine,  large,  old  brick  stable, 
which  I  suppose  might  have  been  the  stable  of  Governor 
Gushing,  who  lived  opposite,  and  on  the  spot  where  the 
Bromfield  House  now  stands.  Spurr  also  died  rather 
prematurely,  and  left  his  business  to  Galen  Holmes,  who 
occupied  the  stable  formerly  belonging  to  Governor  Bow- 
doin,  in  Beacon  Street.  He  finally  gave  up  business,  moved 
into  the  country,  and  may  be  still  living. 

Finally,  I  determined  to  build  a  stable,  and  in  concert 
with  my  brother-in-law,  Mr.  David  Sears,  purchased  a  lot  of 
land  in  Byron  Street,  with  which  we  connected  two  other 
lots,  each  belonging  to  us  ;  and,  by  the  agency  of  Mr. 
Cotting,  built  a  large  and  commodious  stable,  which,  though 
at  some  distance,  has  been  a  great  accommodation.  In  all 
this  time,  I  have  owned  more  horses  than  I  can  enumerate ; 
and  recollect  only  three  as  having  died  of  disease  in  my 
service.  One  of  these,  a  fine  brown  horse,  died  at  Spurr's 
from  apoplexy,  produced  by  over-feeding  when  he  was  not 
worked.  The  second  was  a  horse  which  I  bought  of  Colonel 
Jacques  for  five  hundred  dollars.  He  died  of  pneumonia, 
from  an  improper  exposure  while  shoeing  him.  A  third 
horse,  called  Brownie,  died  from  standing  an  hour  in  a  rain 
storm  in  Harrison  Avenue,  while  I  was  engaged  in  an 
operation  for  strangulated  hernia.  He  had  a  canvas  cover 
ing  on  to  protect  him  from  the  rain ;  but,  not  being  well 
secured,  it  blew  off.  The  rain  and  wind  penetrated  to  his 
back ;  and,  soon  after  I  returned  to  him,  he  was  seized  with 
a  horrid  shiver,  and  had  an  inflammation  of  the  spinal 
marrow.  From  this  he  recovered  so  that  I  could  use  him ; 
but  he  was  subject  to  returns  of  lameness,  and  finally  became 


1839.]  THE    HORSE.  357 

so  far  useless  that  I  thought  it  best  to  have  him  killed.  He 
was  a  horse  of  great  power  and  speed. 

A  still  more  valuable  horse,  which  I  bought  of  Mr. 
Meacham  for  six  hundred  dollars,  I  let  Mr.  Lyman  have. 
He  was  the  handsomest  horse  in  Boston ;  perfect  in  form  ; 
dark  bay ;  very  fine  in  the  saddle.  He  was  called  Archer. 
After  Mr.  Lyman  owned  him  about  a  dozen  years,  he,  in 
riding  to  Brookline,  made  a  misstep  on  the  rise  of  the  hill 
approaching  my  house,  broke  his  ankle-joint,  and,  after  a 
few  days  of  misery,  was  killed.  I  have  now  the  skull  of 
a  valuable  bay  mare  called  the  Milkmaid.  I  owned  her 
twelve  years,  when  she  became  stiff,  and  disposed  to  stum 
ble  ;  so  that  finally  I  let  her  give  up  work,  and  live  in  the 
stable  at  Brookline,  where  she  died  of  old  age.  She  was  the 
freest  horse  I  ever  owned  ;  always  set  out  at  full  speed 
the  moment  I  was  in  the  vehicle,  and  kept  up  the  same 
speed  till  she  reached  her  goal.  Her  physiognomy  was 
remarkably  fine,  and  her  intellectual  and'  moral  qualities 
much  superior  to  those  of  most  horses.  But  she  had  one 
defect,  that  of  stopping  occasionally  when  she  did  not  choose 
to  go.  But  from  her  I  learnt  a  valuable  lesson  of  patience : 
for,  if  I  struck  her  when  she  stopped,  she  always  remained 
riveted  to  the  spot ;  whereas,  if  I  waited  quietly  till  she 
pleased  to  go,  the  detention  was  not  great. 

Another  peculiar  horse,  which  I  owned  till  he  became  too 
old  to  work,  I  purchased  of  my  friend  Mr.  Edward  Dowse, 
of  Dedham.  He  was  the  most  laborious  horse  I  ever 
owned  ;  having  been  driven  in  a  vehicle,  in  one  day,  eighty 
miles  without  injury.  He  unfortunately  got  a  habit  of 
leaping  upon  boys  when  they  pointed  at  him.  On  one  occa 
sion,  having  met  my  friend  and  relative  Mr.  Perkins  in  the 
street,  and  mentioned  to  him  this  peculiarity,  he,  without 
reflection,  pointed  at  the  horse  ;  on  which  the  latter  sprang 


358  THE    HORSE.  [jET.  61. 


at  him,  and  would  have  killed  him,  perhaps,  but  for  the 
intervention  of  a  stone  post.  On  another  occasion,  a  boy 
having  pointed  at  him,  he  sprang,  and,  with  one  of  his  fore 
feet,  kicked  the  boy  behind  his  fore-legs,  and  then  allowed 
him  to  crawl  off. 

A  very  noble  horse,  which  I  bought  at  the  recommenda 
tion  of  Mr.  William  Lee  for  three  hundred  and  twenty 
dollars,  I  afterwards  sold  to  my  friend  Mr.  H.  G.  Otis,  at 
his  earnest  request.  He  was  a  black  horse,  lofty  and 
spirited.  Mr.  Otis  owned  him  a  great  many  years,  and  did 
me  the  honor  to  call  him  by  my  name. 

I  have  always  kept  my  horses  with  great  care  and  atten 
tion  ;  scarcely  ever  used  a  whip,  or  even  carried  one  in  my 
hand,  but  have  guided  them  satisfactorily  by  the  rein  and 
the  voice.  I  never  allowed  them  to  stand  exposed  to  the 
rain,  nor  even  to  severe  cold,  when  it  could  be  avoided,  — 
especially  when  over-heated,  —  at  least  without  covering 
them  in  case  of  any  such  exposure.  I  always  regulated 
their  food  as  well  as  I  could,  and  endeavored,  when  I  did 
not  employ  them  at  labor,  to  have  them  driven  out  to  get 
an  airing  and  exercise  ;  which  are  essential  to  their  health 
and  happiness.  The  check-rein  I  have  disused  for  some 
years  back  ;  but  the  blinkers  I  have  not  been  able  to  get  rid 
of,  because  the  habit  of  using  them  had  been  too  confirmed 
before  they  came  into  my  hands. 

Having  ridden  so  much,  almost  always  used  very  spirited 
horses,  and  kept  them  in  full  vigor,  never  worn  down  by 
fatigue,  I  have  encountered  some  accidents,  but  was  never 
run  away  with.  The  greatest  accident  I  ever  met  with 
was  in  the  year  1804,  when  riding  to  Mr.  Mason's  at  Brook- 
line,  through  the  back  street,  now  called  Warren  Street. 
I  met  the  two  Misses  Higginson  at  a  sudden  turn  in  the  road. 
There  not  being  room  to  pass,  and  seeing  them  much  fright- 


1839.]  THE    HORSE.  359 

ened,  I  drove  aside  upon  a  precipitous  rock  to  make  room 
for  them.  They,  unskilfully  driving  against  me,  frightened 
my  horse,  who  immediately  leaped  over  the  precipice,  upset 
me  in  the  road,  and  then,  running  to  Mr.  Mason's,  carried 
the  news  of  the  accident  to  Mrs.  Warren.  In  the  mean 
time,  however,  the  Misses  Higginson,  being  apprehensive 
that  some  mischief  had  occurred,  went  home,  and  sent  their 
brother,  Mr.  Stephen  Higginson,  jun.,  with  whom  I  had 
been  a  voyage  to  Europe.  He  found  me  lying  in  the 
middle  of  the  road,  recovering,  but  covered  with  blood  and 
dirt,  unable  to  move.  They  carried  me  to  Mr.  Mason's, 
where,  from  the  wounds  in  my  head  and  one  knee,  I  was  in 
rather  a  bad  state.  My  father  being  sent  for  from  Boston, 
and  knowing  I  was  hurt,  came  out  directly,  and  thought  it 
best  to  bleed  me.  I  objected  very  much  to  the  bleeding, 
thinking  I  should  do  better  without ;  but  he  persisted,  and  I 
was  always  in  the  habit  of  doing  what  he  said.  Colonel  Per 
kins  and  Mr.  Higginson  were  present  at  the  time,  and  gave 
me  all  care  and  attention.  I  was  laid  up  there  three  or  four 
weeks :  and  it  happened,  providentially,  that  there  was  much 
sickness  in  the  family  at  that  time ;  and,  the  family  being 
large,  I  was  pretty  well  employed  in  practice  all  the  time  I 
lay  on  the  bed. 

Having  joined  the  Agricultural  Society  in  the  year  1839, 
I,  at  an  early  period,  recommended  their  attention  to  the 
horse.  Objections  were  made,  that  we  might  encourage 
horse-racing.  I  prevailed  on  the  society,  however,  as 
already  mentioned,  to  send  for  an  anatomical  horse  (at 
the  cost  of  six  hundred  dollars)  ;  and  soon  after  gave  a 
lecture,  exhibiting  the  muscles,  heart  and  lungs,  stomach 
and  intestines,  and  anatomy  of  the  foot.  The  Governor, 
and  members  of  the  Legislature,  were  present,  and  expressed 
themselves  much  gratified  as  well  as  surprised  at  the 


360  THE    HORSE.  [-Ex.  61. 

beauty  of  the  structure.  I  added,  as  far  as  time  would 
permit,  directions  and  cautions  as  to  the  treatment  of 
the  animal,  and  showed  them  how  highly  he  was  esteemed 
by  the  ancients ;  who  said,  that,  when  the  ancient  gods  and 
goddesses  were  determined  to  make  the  two  donations  which 
they  considered  the  most  valuable,  Minerva  gave  the  olive  ; 
and  Neptune,  the  horse.  The  society  were  so  much  im 
pressed  by  this  lecture,  that  they  authorized  me  to  send  to 
Paris  for  the  skeleton  of  a  horse  and  cow. 

The  Trustees  of  the  Agricultural  Society  having  also 
chosen  me,  with  Mr.  Gray  the  President,  and  others,  to  con 
sider  the  expediency  of  disposing  of  their  stock  of  cattle, 
we  reported  that  it  ought  to  be  done  ;  and,  in  consequence, 
distributed  a  considerable  portion  of  the  stock  among  the 
County  Agricultural  Societies.  We  sold  a  large  part  of 
the  Ayrshire  cattle,  at  a  good  price,  to  Mr.  George  Lyman  ; 
leaving  now  in  our  possession  about  seven  animals  of  the 
Devon  breed,  which  it  is  proposed  to  sell  or  give  to  the 
Worcester  District  Society,  our  object  having  been  attained 
by  the  introduction  and  diffusion  of  two  pure  breeds.  In 
consequence  of  this  change,  a  portion  of  the  income  of  the 
society  will  be  disposable  ;  and  I,  at  the  last  meeting  of 
the  society,  proposed,  that,  at  the  next  meeting,  a  discussion 
should  take  place  on  the  disposition  of  this  income.  I  sug 
gested,  particularly,  as  a  matter  of  consideration  in  the 
mean  time,  the  propriety  of  devoting  these  funds  to  improv 
ing  the  breed  of  horses.  Dr.  Brooks's  first  lecture  was 
given  in  the  Representatives'  Chamber  of  the  State  House, 
by  invitation  of  the  Legislative  Agricultural  Association,  on 
Thursday  evening,  Feb.  21, 1850.  The  hall  was  well  filled 
at  an  early  hour.  The  President  of  the  Association  took 
the  chair,  and  I  then  addressed  him  on  the  part  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural  Society.  I 


1839.]  THE    HORSE.  361 

explained  to  them  the  origin  of  these  lectures,  and  their 
object;  introduced  Dr.  Brooks,  who  then  gave  a x lecture 
about  an  hour  long,  which  was  heard  with  interest.* 


*  Dr.  Brooks  dying,  the  lectures  were  taken  up  by  Dr.  Daniel  D.  Slade,  who 
gave  a  very  full  and  satisfactory  course  before  the  society,  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature,  and  many  gentlemen  interested  on  the  subject,  who  were  invited  to 
attend. 


362  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [^T.  C2,  €3. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

JOURNAL.  —  LETTER    FROM   DR.   ROOTS.  —  OPERATIONS. 
NEW    MEDICAL    COLLEGE. 

JAN.  1,  1840.  —  A  pleasant  New- Year's  Day,  but  cold. 
Received  a  kind  note  from  Mr.  W.  A ;  also  a  kind  recol 
lection  from  Mrs.  J.  C.  D ,  and  a  new  purse  from  my 

daughter  Mary.  These  are  the  flowers  which  are  scattered 
along  the  rough  road  we  must  travel  to  a  better  state  of 
being.  For  me  they  have  lost  none  of  their  fragrance  ;  but 
they  are  shaded  by  the  yew  and  the  cypress. 

In  the  afternoon,  went  to  a  private  meeting  to  consult 
with  the  friends  of  temperance  on  the  course  to  be  adopted 
at  the  present  crisis.  I  spoke  for  some  time,  and,  if  not 
well,  at  least,  I  think,  with  good  effect. 

Aug.  9.  —  Yesterday,  had  a  long  conversation  with 

on  the  Transcendentalists,  and  the  tendency  of  their  doctrine 
to  produce  utter  infidelity.  The  true  course  is  to  see 
nothing  and  believe  nothing  but  the  pure  and  simple  doc 
trine  of  Christ  crucified  for  our  sins,  and  to  drive  out  of 
our  minds  the  unhappy  doubts  which  lead  to  mysticism  on 
one  side,  and  unbelief  on  the  other.  This  is  the  only  support 
against  the  troubles  of  this  world,  and  certainly  the  safest 
preparation  for  another. 

May  30, 1841.  — Mrs.  Warren  quite  ill  with  spasm  of  the 
intestines. 

June  1.  —  Mrs.  Warren's  illness  continues. 


1841.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  363 

June  3.  —  Mrs.  Warren  has  continued  since  the  1st 
instant  to  be  affected  with  severe  abdominal  pains.  At 
one,  she  was  suddenly  attacked  with  excruciating  pains; 
and  continued,  notwithstanding  opiates,  in  this  state  till  six, 
P.M.,  when  she  expired  in  a  chair. 

June  5.  —  The  funeral  solemnities  of  Mrs.  Warren  took 
place  in  the  same  way  as  I  should  wish  for  myself.  The 
male  friends  of  the  family  met  at  the  house  a  little  before 
six,  P.M.,  and,  with  the  immediate  family,  followed  the  body 
to  St.  Paul's  Church,  where  it  was  received  by  the  Rev. 
Rector,  Dr.  Stone.  During  solemn  music,  he  preceded  the 
body  through  the  middle  aisle,  and  then,  ascending  to 
the  desk,  performed  the  first  part  of  the  burial-service ; 
then  a  hymn  was  sung ;  and,  descending  from  the  desk,  he 
repeated  the  latter  part.  The  body,  followed  by  the  imme 
diate  family,  was  then  conveyed  to  the  vault  during  solemn 
music.  A  considerable  congregation  was  present. 

An  event  of  this  nature,  always  affecting,  is  particularly 
so  in  this  instance.  Her  sensibility  to  the  sufferings  of 
others,  and  her  anxiety  to  relieve  them,  rendered  her  own 
distress  very  dreadful  to  her  family.  The  vacuity  caused 
by  the  rupture  of  associations  of  thirty-eight  years  is  greater 
than  can  be  described. 

Aug.  1. — This  day,  I  have  lived  sixty-three  years ;  a  period 
much  longer  than  I  could  have  reason  to  expect.  My  father 
died  about  six  months  short  of  this  time ;  and  Mrs.  Warren, 
with  a  constitution  apparently  much  better,  more  than  four 
years  earlier  in  age.  These  are  solemn  facts  for  me. 

Communion  Sunday.  —  Dr.  Dorr,  of  Philadelphia,  offi 
ciated. 

The  question  occurs,  whether,  during  the  short  period 
remaining  to  me,  I  can  lead  a  better  life  than  I  have  done. 
Of  this  there  is  no  doubt ;  and  it  must  be  my  object  to 


364  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [^Ex.  65. 

discover  in  what  respects  I  can  improve,  and  endeavor 
to  make  up  for  past  deficiencies,  numerous  as  they  are. 

Aug.  3.  —  Mr.  Lyell,  geologist,  arrived  yesterday.  Gave 
him  all  the  information  I  could  about  his  objects. 

On  Friday,  28th  of  October,  1842,  died  my  friend ,  for 

thirty  years  my  most  intimate  and  confidential  friend ;  for 
talents,  piety,  and  steadiness  of  character,  not  surpassed  by 
any  one  it  has  been  my  lot  to  know. 

Jan.  1,  1843.  — In  the  other  affairs  of  life,  incidents  of  a 
most  striking  nature  have  occurred  to  show  the  utter  uncer 
tainty  of  human  calculations,  the  vanity  of  our  best-founded 
hopes,  and  the  necessity  of  looking  to  another  existence  for 
happiness. 

In  the  year  past,  I  have,  on  the  whole,  abundant  reason 
to  be  grateful  and  contented.  The  health  of  my  family, 
my  own,  the  reasonable  success  of  what  I  have  undertaken, 
the  happy  settlement  of  my  daughters,  are  subjects  of  high 
gratitude.  I  am,  indeed,  a  lonely  being ;  but  the  sense  of 
this  leads  me  to  look  higher  than  earth. 

June  18.  —  Yesterday,  the  celebration  of  the  completion 
of  the  Bunker-Hill  Monument  took  place.  The  day  was 
fine.  The  President  of  the  United  States  took  much  inte 
rest  in  it.  The  address  of  Mr.  Webster  was  admirable  ;  the 
concourse  of  people,  beyond  precedent.  The  dinner,  without 
wine,  went  off  very  handsomely. 

June  25.  —  Prevalence  of  the  Tyler  grip. 

July  1. — Influenza,  or  grip,  very  prevalent.  Some  are 
attacked  with  common  influenza ;  others,  with  violent  pains 
in  the  limbs;  whence  its  name.  Some  have  died  of  con 
gestion  of  the  lungs. 

July  10.  — Mr.  John  Prince  (Dr.  Warren's  brother-in- 
law)  very  ill  of  paralysis. 


1843.]  LETTER    FROM    DR.    ROOTS.  365 

Dec.  8.  — An  anonymous  letter  from  a  student,  complain 
ing  I  did  not  speak  loud  or  distinctly  enough.  To-day, 
raised  my  voice  considerably,  with  effect. 


Dr.  Roots  to  Dr.   Warren. 

KINGSTON  UPON  THAMES,  Jan.  15,  1842. 

MY  DEAR  WARREN,  —  I  think  the  last  communication 
between  us  was  through  our  good  friend  Sullivan  ;  and, 
though  you  delegated  to  him  the  trouble  of  letting  me  know 
something  of  your  transatlantic  movements,  yet,  with  all 
due  apologies  to  him,  I  shall  go  at  once  to  the  fountain- 
head  in  my  reply :  and  my  young  friend  will  know  full 
well,  that,  in  showing  superior  respect  to  his  father,  it 
is  reflected  double-fold  on  himself.  I  was  truly  glad 
to  find  by  his  letter  that  you  were  enjoying  tolerable 
good  health,  and  that  your  "  Otium  "  was,  in  some  degree, 
established ;  and  I  need  not  say  I  was  assured  that  it  was 
accompanied  "  cum  dignitate."  You  never,  in  your  younger 
days,  was  addicted  to  frivolous  ENJOYMENTS  ;  and  I  think  I 
can  safely  answer  for  your  latter  period  not  being  encum 
bered  with  nonsense.  But  don't  fancy  me  a  rigid  stoic ;  for 
I  am  convinced  you  will  agree  with  me,  that  it  is  a  part  of 
our  duty,  in  this  life,  to  make  ourselves,  by  all  fair  and 
honest  means,  as  comfortable  and  happy  as  our  few 
remaining  powers  will  permit.  This  desideratum  not  only 
appertains  to  our  own  individual  advantage,  but  is  highly 
demanded  of  us  for  the  use,  benefit,  and  happiness  of  those 
most  interested  in  our  welfare,  and  who  may  have  yet  to 
tread  in  the  path  so  long  trodden  by  ourselves. 

You  will  perhaps  wish  to  hear  (and,  I  flatter  myself,  with 
some  interest)  how  the  world  wags  with  me  at  the  present 


366  LETTER    FROM    DR.    ROOTS.  [JET.  65. 

time,  and  "  Voila  Vhistoire"  After  the  great  loss  we  expe 
rienced  about  two  years  ago,  by  the  death  of  my  only  three 
grandsons  in  the  short  space  of  five  days,  both  Mrs.  Roots's 
as  well  as  mine  own  health  greatly  suffered ;  and,  in  the 
early  part  of  last  summer,  the  first  symptoms  appeared 
of  paralysis  in  her  extremities.  The  main  sources  of 
nervous  influence  continued  perfect ;  but  the  hands  and 
feet  lost  all  voluntary  power.  Every  means  that  medical 
aid  could  be  thought  of  was  brought  to  bear,  but  in  vain  ; 
and,  in  October  last,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  try  what  the 
warm  sea-baths  would  do :  though  baths,  electricity ',  "  et 
id  genus  omne,"  which  my  best  medical  friends  in  London 
all  joined  in  promoting,  had  been  brought  in  full  battery 
against  this  cursed  scourge,  over  and  over  again,  without 
any  good  result.  Nevertheless,  I  gave  up  every  thing  to  the 
trial.  I  went  with  her  to  Hastings,  on  the  Sussex  coast, 
the  most  congenial  of  our  seaside  winter  residences.  I 
staid  there  two  months,  most  anxiously  waiting  the  effect 
of  ample  friction  in  the  baths  ;  and  I  think  I  can  safely  say, 
something  like  a  check  or  stop  has  been  put  to  the  growing 
evil.  I  came  home  at  Christmas,  waiting  with  anxiety  for 
the  riddance  of  the  ensuing  bad  season.  But  misfortunes 
never  come  alone  ;  and,  on  New- Year's  Day,  I  was  thrown 
from  my  open  carriage  by  a  wagon  catching  my  wheel,  which 
threw  me  with  violence  to  the  ground.  I  was  stunned,  but 
fortunately  broke  no  bones ;  yet  the  shock  and  bruises  I 
received  still  keep  me  to  my  room.  There  is  good  reason, 
however,  to  believe  that  a  little  longer  rest  will  bring  me 
round  again. 

Pray,  my  dear  friend,  write  me  a  long  account  of  your 
self  and  all  belonging  to  you.  I  wish  you  would  publish 
your  recent  tour  in  Europe  ;  no  one  is  more  capable  for  the 
undertaking  than  yourself.  In  a  short  time,  the  life  and 


1843.]  OPERATIONS.  367 

correspondence  of  our  old  friend  Astley  Cooper  will  be 
published  by  my  good  friend  Bransby  Cooper,  who  has  been 
in  frequent  correspondence  of  late  with  me  relative  to  the 
early  period  of  his  uncle's  life,  and  with  which  I  happened 
to  be  well  acquainted.  I  think  it  will  be  an  interesting 
work,  not  only  to  our  profession,  but  to  the  world  at  large. 
Give  my  kind  regards,  I  beg  of  you,  not  only  to  my  friend 
Sullivan,  but  to  all  your  family.  My  son  Ludlow  is  well, 
and,  since  our  recent  calamity,  has  got  tavo  children,  both 
girls ;  and  thus  the  name  of  Roots  is  still  in  abeyance. 
My  brother,  of  London,  has  no  children;  and  my  nephews, 
both  barristers,  not  likely  to  marry.  "  Sic  transit  GLORIA 
inundi."  God  bless  you,  my  dear  old  friend !  You  are  never 

thought  of  but  with  affection  by 

Wm.  Roots! 


In  February,  1842,  Dr.  Warren  published  an  ac 
count  of  an  important  and  successful  operation  for 
removal  of  the  upper  jaw.  This  may  be  found 
in  the  twenty-sixth  volume  of  the  "  Boston  Medical 
and  Surgical  Journal,"  and  also  in  the  "  Medical 
Journal  of  the  Medical  Sciences."  The  operation 
was  long  and  difficult ;  but  the  patient  was  a  healthy 
man  of  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  he  recovered 
perfectly. 

In  the  same  volume  of  the  "  Boston  Journal "  are 
several  reports  of  surgical  cases  treated  by  him, — 
an  operation  for  deformity  resulting  from  a  burn ; 
fractures  of  the  thigh,  humerus,  and  arm ;  a  case  of 
strangulated  hernia,  —  the  operation  performed  by 
division  of  the  internal  pillar  of  the  external  ring, 


368  SECOND    MARRIAGE.  [^Ex.  65. 

without  opening  the  sac ;  a  case  of  burn,  terminating 
in  erysipelas,  with  pneumonia  and  pleurites,  —  fatal. 
Dr.  Warren  remarks,  that,  in  old  people  attacked  with 
erysipelas,  inflammation  of  the  lungs  and  pleura  is 
very  apt  to  occur,  proving  rapidly  fatal,  but  without 
any  of  the  active  symptoms  characterizing  such  a 
disease  in  a  healthy  individual. 

In  July  of  this  year,  a  new  medical  journal  was 
commenced,  edited  by  Dr.  Samuel  Parkman  and  Dr. 
Charles  E.  Ware.  It  appears  by  Dr.  Warren's  jour 
nal,  that  he  had  agreed  to  give  the  surgical  reports  to 
this  journal.  None,  however,  were  furnished  by  him ; 
possibly  owing  to  its  brief  existence.  It  was  ably 
sustained,  and  contains  much  valuable  matter ;  but, 
after  the  experience  of  one  year,  it  was  found,  like 
several  of  its  predecessors,  to  be  attended  with  pecu 
niary  loss,  and  was  therefore  abandoned. 

In  October,  1843,  his  second  marriage,  to  Miss 
Anne  Winthrop,  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor  Thomas  L.  Winthrop,  took  place. 

An  affection  of  the  eyes,  produced  at  first  by  dis 
secting  a  putrid  subject  about  which  chloride  of  lime 
had  been  freely  used,  prevented  his  continuing  his 
journal  from  July,  1844,  to  August,  1845.  Up  to 
that  period,  he  had  been  his  own  amanuensis.  He 
now  resumed  it  by  the  aid  of  Mrs.  Warren. 

Aug.  27,  he  notices  a  pleasant  meeting  of  the 
"  Hasty-pudding  Club,"  —  an  old  college  society. 

During  the  period  of  this  hiatus  in  his  journal,  he 
was  as  busily  engaged  as  usual  in  the  varied  medical 


1843.]  STRANGULATED    HERNIA.  369 

and  scientific  pursuits  which  have  been  detailed. 
We  find  nothing  especial  to  record,  until  the  pub 
lication  of  a  "  Peculiar  Case  of  Gelatiniform  Cancer," 
which  was  read  before  the  English  Royal  Medical 
and  Chirurgical  Society,  and  published  in  the  twenty- 
seventh  volume  of  their  Transactions. 

In  the  following  year  (1845),  he  communicated  a 
case  of  "  Ligature  of  the  Left  Subclavian "  to  the 
society  above  mentioned,  of  which  he  had  now 
become  a  member.  It  was  read  Nov.  25,  and  pub 
lished  in  the  twenty-ninth  volume  of  their  Transac 
tions. 

In  January,  1845,  he  contributed  for  the  "  Journal 
of  Medical  Sciences  "  an  account  of  some  cases  of 
strangulated  hernia,  with  some  remarks,  principally 
intended  to  show  the  necessity  of  an  early  resort  to 
the  operation. 

"  Physicians,"  he  says,  "  often  repeat  various  other 
measures,  and  continue  them  until  the  strength  of  the 
patient  appears  to  be  failing ;  and  the  operation  must 
be  resorted  to,  as  the  only  possible  chance  of  saving 
the  patient."  As  has  already  been  seen,  he  was  the 
first  to  perform  the  operation  here  (about  the  year 
1803).  At  that  time,  physicians  and  patients  were 
strongly  averse  to  the  operation.  Latterly,  there 
has  been  a  change  of  opinion ;  and,  for  the  last  six 
years,  there  has  been  but  one  unsuccessful  termina 
tion:  this  was  in  the  case  of  a  man  who  was  not 
operated  upon  until  three  days  after  strangulation. 
Dr.  Warren  gives  a  detailed  account  of  seven  cases, 


370  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [Mi.  68. 

illustrating  the  propriety  of  an  early  operation,  and 
of  the  means  of  effecting  a  radical  cure.  The  em 
ployment  of  the  warm  bath,  of  cold  to  the  part, 
and  of  tobacco,  he  considers  inferior  in  efficacy  to 
copious  bleeding.  These  measures  exhaust  precious 
time  and  the  strength  of  the  patient ;  but  in  cases  of 
strangulation  not  attended  with  severe  pain,  or  other 
local  or  constitutional  disturbance,  the  operation 
should  not  be  too  hastily  resorted  to. 

JOURNAL. 

Feb.  5,  1846.  —  This  morning,  had  some  conversation 
with  Mr.  Appleton  on  the  subject  of  erecting  a  new  building 
for  the  Medical  College.  The  question  is  between  enlarging 
the  old  one,  and  taking  a  piece  of  land,  offered  by  Dr. 
George  Park  man,  near  the  Hospital. 

Feb.  7.  —  Drew  up  a  paper  on  the  subject  of  a  subscrip 
tion  for  a  new  Medical  College.  Saw  Dr.  Hay  ward  and  Mr. 
William  Appleton  on  the  subject,  and  visited  the  spot  where 
Dr.  Gr.  Park  man  proposes  to  give  a  lot  of  land  for  the  Col 
lege,  eighty  by  one  hundred  feet. 

May  14.  —  News  of  declaration  of  war  by  Congress 
against  Mexico. 

May  29.  —  Yesterday,  had  the  mastodon  set  up.  It  was 
visited  by  Mr.  Lyell,  who  thought  it  very  fine. 

Aug.  20.  —  After  visiting  patients,  set  off  from  the 
"Worcester  Station  to  visit  Long  Pond,  to  be  known  hence 
forth  by  the  name  of  Lake  Cochituate,  the  old  Indian  name  ; 
meaning  a  copious  and  delightful  portion  of  water.  We 
went  to  the  south  part  of  the  lake  first ;  and  then,  taking  the 
Saxonville  Railroad,  landed  within  a  mile  of  the  place  where 
the  lake  was  to  be  opened.  In  this  way,  we  had  an  opportu- 


1846.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  371 

nity  of  seeing  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  which  seems  to  be  a  con 
siderable  river.  We  then  proceeded  to  the  north  part  of  the 
lake  on  foot,  to  where  the  opening  is  to  be  made.  Ceremo 
nies  were  performed  by  the  Mayor  and  the  Water  Commis 
sioners,  aided  by  three  hundred  people  from  Boston,  crowds 
from  the  country,  and  a  band  of  music.  From  thence  we 
returned  to  a  hall  erected  for  the  purpose,  and  dined  very 
comfortably,  aided  by  excellent  water  from  the  lake.  No 
wine  or  other  liquor,  and  no  spirit,  though  plenty  of  wit. 
Altogether,  very  amusing. 

Oct.  9.  —  Passed  an  hour  on  the  skeleton  of  the  masto 
don.  The  difficulties  of  the  description  seem  rather  to 
increase  than  diminish :  but,  as  there  is  no  monograph,  I 
must  proceed  patiently  till  it  is  accomplished ;  which  cannot 
be  for  some  months. 

Oct.  16.  —  In  the  morning,  went  to  the  Medical  College 
to  make  some  experiments  on  the  renovation  of  decayed 
bones  with  glue.  White  glue  gives,  in  some  cases,  a  beau 
tiful  appearance  ;  and  the  black  gives  great  strength. 

Did  an  interesting  operation  at  the  Hospital  this  morn 
ing,  while  the  patient  was  under  the  influence  of  Dr.  Mor 
ton's  preparation  to  prevent  pain.  The  substance  employed 
was  sulphuric  ether. 

Oct.  26.  —  Had  a  conference  with  Mr.  Abbott  Lawrence 
on  the  formation  of  a  weekly  meeting  of  gentlemen  for 
social  and  scientific  conversation.  A  number  of  names  of 
gentlemen  were  agreed  on  to  be  invited  to  meet  at  my  house 
to-morrow  evening  for  the  purpose  of  arrangement. 

Oct.  27. —  In  the  evening,  a  meeting  of  gentlemen  on 
the  new  social  arrangement  for  scientific  conversation. 
Present,  Messrs.  A.  Lawrence,  F.  C.  Gray,  Theophilus 
Parsons,  Martin  Brimmer,  George  Darracott,  Dr.  C.  T. 
Jackson,  Dr.  Augustus  A.  Gould.  I  am  to  invite  Bishop 


372  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  [jET.  68. 

Fitzpatrick,  William  Appleton,  Rev.  Dr.  Yinton,  and  Dr. 
Holmes. 

Nov.  4.  —  Went  to  the  new  College,  and  directed  the 
arrangement  of  bells.  Attended  the  ceremonies  at  the 
opening  of  the  College,  and  heard  an  eloquent  Address  from 
President  Everett.  Dr.  Hayward  then  made  an  appropriate 
Address. 

Nov.  30.  —  Received  a  note  from  Dr.  Morton  and  Mr. 
R.  H.  Eddy,  requesting  me  to  write  a  statement  of  my 
operations  under  the  influence  of  ethereal  gas. 

Feb.  15,  1847.  — This  day,  sent  to  President  Everett  my 
resignation ;  and  addressed  a  note  to  the  Medical  Faculty, 
informing  them  of  it. 

March  2.  —  Visited  the  Hospital  to-day.  Went  from  there 
to  the  Medical  College  to  prepare  for  my  last  lecture, 
which  I  accomplished  with  various  interruptions.  After 
finishing  the  subject  of  the  teeth,  I  gave  my  concluding 
Address,  —  an  historical  sketch  of  the  College  and  Hospital, 
comparison  of  the  school  with  those  of  Europe,  advice  to 
the  students  and  young  practitioners.  After  this  followed 
a  repast,  given  by  Dr.  George  Parkman  ;  during  which  he 
and  various  other  gentlemen  paid  me  many  handsome  com 
pliments.  Received  a  letter  from  President  Everett,  stating 
that  the  corporation  had  received  my  resignation. 

March  12.  —  Last  evening,  had  a  very  successful  meeting 
of  the  club.  Remarks  by  Mr.  Teschmacher,  on  crystalli 
zation  by  clay ;  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  on  petrifaction  by  iron ; 
Mr.  George  B.  Emerson,  on  the  beauty  of  trees ;  Mr.  Hays, 
on  decomposition  of  lead  water-pipes.  Concluded  by  show 
ing  my  Zeuglodon. 

May  6.  —  Received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Gould,  informing 
me  that  I  am  elected  President  of  the  Natural-History 
Society ;  quite  unexpectedly  to  me. 


1846.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  373 

June  11.  —  Wrote  a  letter  of  condolence,  and  thanks 
for  their  donation  to  the  Natural-History  Society,  to  the 
Binney  Family.  v 

Sent  a  note  to  Dr.  M.  Gay,  recommending  that  Drs.  Jack 
son  and  Morton  should  settle  their  dispute  in  applying 
jointly  to  the  British  Parliament ;  and  offered  to  aid  them. 

July  5.  —  Went  to  town  early  this  morning.  For  some 
time,  could  not  get  access  to  my  house,  owing  to  the  crowd. 
Visited  Mr.  Thompson's  collection  of  pictures ;  many  of 
them  very  fine.  Paid  my  respects  to  the  Mayor.  Professor 
Gibbes,  of  Charleston,  S.C.,  called  to  see  the  Zeuglodon  ; 
thinks  it  should  be  called  by  Harlan's  name^  —  Basilosau- 
rus ;  says  Professor  Emmons  has  retained  casts  of  all  the 
interesting  parts.  Professor  Gibbes  is  about  to  publish  on 
the  subject,  and  made  some  important  alterations  from  my 
specimens.  Professor  Mitchell,  from  Philadelphia,  also 
called.  He  says  that  Professor  Henry  will  be  appointed, 
instead  of  Dr.  Hare  ;  and,  if  he  declines,  Professor  William 
Ropes,  who,  he  thinks,  will  answer  best.  Dined  with  the 
Society  of  Cincinnati,  and  was  admitted  honorary  member. 
Got  home  at  seven,  with  much  fatigue. 

Nov.  2.  —  Arranged  a  memorial  to  Congress  on  the  sub 
ject  of  ether. 

Made  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Ticknor  for  printing  an 
article  on  the  subject  of  ether. 

Nov.  11.  —  Received  a  communication  from  the  City 
Government,  requesting  a  Report  on  the  best  material  to 
bring  water  into  houses.  Saw  the  Mayor  and  the  Water 
Commissioners  this  morning,  and  sent  out  notes  requesting 
opinions  of  Drs.  Hayes,  Webster,  C.  T.  Jackson,  Messrs. 
Teschmacher  and  G.  M.  Dexter. 

Nov.  25,  Thanksgiving  Day.  —  In  the  morning,  visited 
patients.  At  eleven,  attended  at  Brattle-street  Church.  At 
one,  went  to  Brooklirie.  At  three  o'clock,  family  dinner, — 


374  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  ^ET.  69. 


eighteen  at  table  ;  afterwards  six  grandchildren,  besides  two 
at  the  table  ;  making  eight.  In  the  evening,  about  twelve 
more  of  the  family,  including  Mr.  Winthrop  and  Miss  Tap- 
pan.  Broke  up  at  ten  and  a  half.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  W.  staid 
over  night  and  the  next  day. 

Nov.  27.  —  Yesterday,  P.M.,  went  to  see,  at  the  Museum, 
a  Bushman-boy,  said  to  be  seventeen  years  old.  He  had 
high  cheek-bones,  turned-up  eyes,  projecting  chin,  good 
teeth,  protuberant  belly  and  nates,  skin  Mulatto-like,  hair 
crisped  very  close. 

Dec.  14.  —  Last  evening,  had  the  meeting  of  the  church- 
choir  here  ;  nine  in  the  whole.  Music  fine.  Wrote  a  note 
to  Mr.  Tuckerman,  advising  practice  in  the  church. 

Dec.  16.  —  Last  evening,  Natural-History  Society  at  my 
house  ;  Bishop  Potter  with  them.  Had  the  singing  mouse. 
This  morning,  letter  from  Professor  Webster  on  water-pipes. 
Five  operations  this  morning  at  the  Infirmary  ;  among 
others,  anchylosis  of  the  right  arm,  from  fracture  of  the 
external  condyle  ;  removed  under  the  influence  of  ether. 

Dec.  17.  —  Last  evening,  meeting  of  the  club  at  Mr. 
William  Appleton's.  Long  discussion  on  water-pipes.  This 
morning,  went  to  Cambridge  early  to  see  Dr.  Webster. 
Examined  his  collection  of  fossil  specimens  of  Saurians,  &c. 
I  agreed  to  purchase  them  of  him,  the  specimens  being,  as 
he  says,  about  five  hundred  in  number,  together  with  the 
geological  transactions  complete,  for  three  hundred  dollars. 
Paid  him  this  day.  Wrote  a  letter  to  McGruigan  regarding 
the  Elephant  Pizarro.  Sent  the  catalogue  of  anatomical 
preparations  at  the  Medical  College  to  Dr.  J.  B.  S.  Jackson, 
curator.  Sent  to  President  Everett  two  papers,  —  one 
containing  my  donation  of  the  anatomical  museum  to 
Harvard  University,  for  the  use  of  the  Medical  School  ; 
the  other  containing  an  historical  sketch  of  the  formation 
of  the  collection. 


1847.]  LETTERS.  375 


Dr.  Warren  to  Dr.  Jackson. 

BOSTON,  Dec.  16,  1847. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  I  send  you  a  catalogue  of  the  anatomical 
preparations  I  have  placed  in  the  museum  of  the  Medical 
College.  There  may  be  inserted  in  the  catalogue  some 
which  are  not  to  he  found,  and  others  in  the  museum  which 
have  not  been  inserted. 

After  the  lectures  are  over,  I  propose  to  go  over  the  col 
lection,  correct  the  list,  and  if  many  alterations  are  neces 
sary,  from  change  of  arrangement  or  any  other  cause,  to 
have  a  new  copy  made. 

"Very  truly  yours, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 

Dr.  J.  B.  S.  JACKSON. 


Dr.  Warren  to  President  Everett. 

BOSTON,  Dec.  16,  1847. 

MY  DEAR  SIR,  —  I  beg  leave  to  send  you  two  papers,  — 
one  containing  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Anatomical 
Museum ;  the  other,  a  gift  of  that  collection,  with  five  thou 
sand  dollars,  to  the  University,  on  certain  conditions. 

If  you  should  think  it  desirable  to  make  any  changes  in 
the  latter,  please  to  inform  me  before  presenting  it  to  the 
corporation. 

Tery  respectfully 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

J.  C.  WARREN. 


376  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  ^T.  69. 


Dr.  McGuigan  to  Dr.  Warren. 

MUSEUM  BUILDING,  PHILADELPHIA,  Dec.  13,  1847. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  I  am  glad  to  give  you  the  information  you 
desire. 

The  Elephant  Pizarro*  was  imported  in  1833.  He 
backed  off  the  wharf  after  landing  from  the  vessel  at  this 
city,  and  fractured  his  thigh-bone.  He  was  unable  to  walk 
for  six  months,  and  limped  for  several  years  afterwards. 
He  weighed  nine  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty  pounds, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  been  twenty  years  old.  He  has 
wounded  a  large  number  of  persons  at  different  times,  but 
never  killed  any  one. 

I  send  you  the  snake  I  promised,  by  the  package  ex 
press. 

Yours  respectfully, 

WM.  McGuiGAN. 

To  Dr.  J.  C.  WARREN,  Boston. 


Dec.  20.  —  This  morning,  wrote  a  letter  of  introduc 
tion  to  Dr.  Hosack  for  the  Rev.  Dr.  Scoresby.  Received 
three  hundred  and  fifty-four  fossil  specimens  from  Dr. 
Webster,  and  volumes  of  the  "  Geological  Transactions." 
Gave  to  Mrs.  M.  W.  Mrs.  Hannah  More's  works,  eight 
volumes  ;  and  to  Mrs.  D.  the  works  of  Bossuet  (French), 
sixteen  volumes. 

Dec.  22.  —  Last  evening,  meeting  of  the  choir  at  the 
church.  Arrangements  made  for  a  second  choir,  at  the  ex 
pense  of  three  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

*  The  skeleton  is  now  in  the  Warren  Museum  of  Natural  History,  91,  Chestnut 
Street. 


1847.]  DOMESTIC    JOURNAL.  377 

Dec.  23.  — Sent  to  Moses  Grant  one  hundred  dollars  for 
the  use  of  the  temperance  cause.  Operation  at  the  Hospi 
tal  on  a  tumor,  under  etherization.  Read  the  full  account 
of  Dr.  Deane  and  Professor  Hitchcock's  controversy  on 
ornithicnites. 

Dec.  29.  —  Passed  some  hours  in  the  morning  in  experi 
menting  with  chloroform  on  various  patients  and  some 
medical  gentlemen  at  the  Hospital.  Made  some  experi 
ments  on  its  physical  and  chemical  properties,  and  prepared 
an  additional  article  to  the  paper  on  "  Etherization."  Put 
up  for  England,  in  a  box  committed  to  Harnden,  thirty-eight 
copies  of  "  Etherization,"  and  four  copies  of  Dr.  Holmes's 
Introductory  Discourse.  Wrote  to  Mr.  Scurving,  nursery- 
gardener  and  seedsman,  Liverpool. 

Dec.  31.  —  Sent  twenty  dollars  to  Mr.  Rand,  in  New 
York,  formerly  a  painter  in  London,  very  poor.  Received 
Mr.  Appleton's  account ;  found  to  be  correct.  Delivered  a 
certificate  of  fifty  shares  in  the  North-Adams  Railroad, 
worth  five  thousand  dollars,  to  Mr.  William  Appleton,  to 
be  delivered  to  Harvard  University  as  a  donation.  Had 
an  interview  with  Colonel  Magennis,  of  an  hour's  duration. 
Last  evening,  at  the  club,  inhaled  chloroform,  or  perchloride 
of  formyle.  It  was  administered  on  a  linen  handkerchief. 
Dr.  J.  applied  it  so  close  to  the  nostrils,  that  no  air  could  be 
admitted  with  it.  The  consequence  was  a  sense  of  heat  pass 
ing  in  the  nostrils  down  into  the  lungs,  like  the  inhalation 
of  flame.  This  lasted  for  some  hours,  with  a  constant  incli 
nation  to  expectorate.  Insensibility  came  on  slowly,  and 
was  not  complete,  owing  to  the  impossibility  of  free  inhala 
tion.  Passed  an  hour  this  evening  in  settling  annual  bills 
with  Mr.  Smith.  Notes  to  President  Everett  and  Mr.  N.  I. 
Bowditch.  Letter  to  Colonel  Magennis.  Letter  to  Mr. 
Lacerte  for  a  musk-ox. 

48 


378  NEW    MEDICAL    COLLEGE.  [^Ex.  68. 

In  February,  1846,  as  appears  from  the  journal, 
Dr.  Warren  consulted  with  Mr.  William  Appleton  in 
regard  to  the  comparative  expediency  of  erecting  a 
new  Medical  College  on  land  in  Grove  Street,  offered 
by  Dr.  George  Parkman;  or  of  enlarging  the  old 
College  Building,  which  was  now  insufficient  for  the 
wants  of  the  Medical  School. 

The  former  plan  was  decided  upon.  It  was  agreed 
to  accept  the  liberal  offer  of  Dr.  Parkman ;  and  Dr. 
Warren  drew  up  a  paper  upon  the  subject  of  a  sub 
scription  for  this  object.  The  donation  above  men 
tioned,  however,  and  the  sale  of  the  old  College, 
supplied  the  principal  means.  This  sale  was  effected 
with  so  great  rapidity,  and  under  such  terms,  that,  as 
the  new  building  would  not  be  ready  for  some  time, 
the  professors,  with  their  preparations  and  apparatus, 
were  nearly  turned  out  into  the  street.  Fortunately, 
the  Professor  of  Anatomy  was  able  to  make  an 
arrangement  with  the  purchasers  for  the  use  of  the 
building,  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  month. 

The  new  building  went  on  with  good  speed,  and 
was  ready  for  occupation  at  the  time  for  commencing 
the  lectures  in  November.  Nov.  4,  it  was  opened 
with  appropriate  ceremonies,  and  an  Address  from 
Mr.  Everett,  then  President  of  Harvard  College. 
This  was  followed  by  an  Address  from  Dr.  Hay- 
ward. 

May  26,  1846,  a  Medical  Convention  was  held  in 
New  York,  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States ; 
which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  an  American 


1846.]  MASTODON.  379 

Medical  Association,  which  have  since  held  annual 
meetings  in  the  different  cities  of  the  Union,  some 
account  of  which  will  be  given  hereafter. 

In  June,  Dr.  Warren  made  a  visit  to  the  South. 
At  Philadelphia,  he  examined  the  mastodon  in  Peale's 
Museum;  which  was  quite  an  imperfect  one,  many 
of  the  parts  being  supplied  by  wood.  He  visited  also 
the  other  public  institutions,  and  attended  a  meeting 
of  the  Society  of  Natural  Sciences.  At  the  Hall  of 
the  Philosophical  Society,  he  found  a  large  collection 
of  fossil  bones,  sufficient  to  form  a  fine  museum  of 
themselves.  By  Dr.  Hosack's  request,  he  operated 
upon  one  of  his  patients. 

1846  was  an  eventful  year  in  the  medical  history 
of  Boston.  The  establishment  of  the  new  Medical 
College,  which  was  so  soon  to  become  of  unfortunate 
notoriety  as  connected  with  the  fate  of  its  benefactor, 
has  already  been  related. 

On  the  16th  of  October,  Dr.  Warren  performed 
an  operation  with  a  preparation  which  he  received 
from  Dr.  Morton,  and  which  was  soon  ascertained 
to  be  sulphuric  ether.  This  was  the  first  surgical  , 
operation  under  the  influence  of  ether,  though  Dr. 
Morton  had  previously  used  it  in  the  extraction  of 
teeth.  A  full  notice  of  this  subject  will  be  found  in 
the  Biographical  Notes. 

The  bones  of  the  mastodon,  discovered  the  preced 
ing  year,  which  he  had  purchased,  were  now  a 
subject  of  great  interest  and  occupation ;  the  arrange 
ment  of  the  bones  requiring  much  study  and  scientific 


380  WATER-PIPES. 


knowledge.  Oct.  20,  he  had  them  removed  to  his 
house.  In  this  month,  the  meetings  of  the  club  for 
scientific  conversation,  in  which  he  had  taken  so 
much  interest,  commenced.  The  club  was  formed 
under  the  name  of  the  Warren  Club,  in  honor  of  its 
founder  ;  but  the  name  was  subsequently  changed,  at 
his  desire,  to  the  Thursday-evening  Club. 

In  answer  to  the  City  Government,  requesting  his 
opinion  with  regard  to  the  material  to  be  used  for 
pipes  for  conveying  the  Cochituate  water  into  houses, 
a  very  full  Eeport  was  prepared  by  the  consulting 
physicians,  and  sent  in  the  month  of  April  following, 
after  obtaining  the  opinion  of  the  most  distinguished 
chemists  and  other  scientific  men.  It  entered  very 
fully  into  a  discussion  of  the  subject,  and  considera 
tion  of  the  various  materials  employed.  It  was 
published  by  order  of  the  City  Government.  The 
conclusions  arrived  at  were,  that,  — 

1.  Pipes  made   of  cast  or  wrought  iron  may  be 
safely  used,  as  far  as  health  is  concerned. 

2.  That  copper  pipes,  effectually  tinned  by  reliable 
workmen,  are  safe,  so  long  as  the  inner  coating  keeps 
in  repair. 

3.  That  though  leaden  pipes,  under  certain  circum 
stances,  communicate  a  highly  deleterious  quality  to 
the  water,  yet,  in  open  waters  from  which  large  cities 
have  been  supplied,  no  practical  evil  of  a  general 
nature  is  known  to  have  resulted  ;  and,  with  proper 
precautions,  they  may  be  safely  used. 


1846.]  INTRODUCTION    OF    ETHER.  381 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

PAPER   ON   THE   INTRODUCTION   OF   ETHER. 

IT  has  already  been  stated,  that  on  the  16th  of  Octo 
ber,  1846,  Dr.  Warren  performed  the  first  operation 
in  which  ether  was  used. 

By  request,  as  he  states,  of  R.  H.  Eddy,  Esq.,  on 
behalf  of  Dr.  Morton,  on  the  3d  of  December,  he 
communicated  an  account  of  the  operations  which  he 
had  witnessed  or  performed,  wherein  the  new  agent 
was  employed.  This  account  was  published  in  the 
thirty-fifth  volume  of  the  "  Boston  Medical  and  Surgi 
cal  Journal." 

The  first  operation,  he  says,  was  for  a  tumor  upon 
the  neck,  requiring  a  protracted  dissection  among 
important  nerves  and  blood-vessels.  Although  the 
etherization  was  imperfect,  the  effect  of  the  agent  was 
made  perfectly  distinct  to  his  mind.  On  the  following 
day,  an  operation  was  performed  by  Dr.  Hayward ; 
the  respiration  of  the  gas  was  continued  through  the 
whole  operation ;  and  there  was  no  exhibition  of  pain, 
except  a  few  groans  during  its  last  stage. 

The  success  of  the  process  being  established,  he 
conceived  it  his  duty  to  introduce  it  into  the  Hospital. 
But  here  a  difficulty  arose.  The  surgeons  had 


382  INTRODUCTION    OF    ETHER.  [^T.  68. 

used  Dr.  Morton's  apparatus  and  his  preparation, 
the  nature  of  which  was  kept  secret ;  and  they  were 
informed  that  he  intended  to  apply  for  a  patent.  In 
this  case,  it  was  contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  profession 
to  employ  it.  After  a  conversation  with  Dr.  Hay- 
ward,  however,  Dr.  Morton  agreed  to  make  known 
the  article.  He  was  invited  to  continue  his  experi 
ments  at  the  Hospital ;  and,  on  the  7th  of  November, 
attended  at  a  painful  and  protracted  operation,  per 
formed  by  Dr.  Warren,  for  excision  of  a  portion  of 
the  lower  jaw,  in  which  the  pain  was  greatly  miti 
gated  ;  and  also  an  amputation  of  the  thigh,  by  Dr. 
Hayward,  in  which  the  ether  appeared  to  be  entirely 
successful  in  preventing  pain. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  an  operation  was  per 
formed,  by  Dr.  J.  Mason  Warren,  for  the  removal  of  a 
tumor  from  the  arm.  The  unconsciousness  of  pain 
was  so  complete,  Dr.  Warren  states,  that  he  was  not 
aware  the  operation  had  begun  until  it  was  nearly 
ended. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  there  was  another  opera 
tion,  by  Dr.  J.  Mason  Warren,  for  the  removal  of 
a  tumor,  which  covered  nearly  half  the  front  of  the 
right  thigh.  The  patient  stated  he  felt  no  pain 
during  the  operation,  and  he  was  unconscious  that  it 
had  taken  place. 

Dr.  Warren  concludes  this  paper  by  congratulating 
his  "  professional  brethren  on  the  acquisition  of  a 
mode  of  mitigating  human  suffering,  which  may 
become  a  valuable  agent  in  the  hands  of  careful  and 


1846.]  INTRODUCTION    OF    ETHER.  383 

well-instructed  practitioners,  even  if  it  should  not 
prove  of  such  general  application  as  the  imagination 
of  sanguine  persons  would  lead  them  to  anticipate." 

This  extract  displays  the  habitual  caution  of  Dr. 
Warren.  It  is  very  probable  this  caution  gave  greater 
weight  to  his  opinions,  which  were  soon  communi 
cated  in  letters  to  his  friends  in  Europe.  The  sanc 
tion  given  by  one  so  well  known,  and  possessed  of  so 
many  distinguished  medical  friends  abroad,  secured  to 
this  discovery  a  prompt  and  earnest  reception ;  and  it 
was  tried  everywhere,  without  that  distrust  which, 
in  general,  attends  a  new  remedy.  Its  success  is  mat 
ter  of  universal  knowledge. 

It  may  now  be  matter  of  some  amusement  to  recol 
lect  not  only  the  popular  ideas  of  the  time,  but  that 
of  grave  journals.  All  agreed  that  a  means  had  been 
found  of  annihilating  pain,  without  disturbing  con 
sciousness.  This  was  an  error.  It  was  subsequently 
found,  that  this  agent,  like  every  thing  else,  had  its 
imperfections.  The  time  for  miracles  in  surgery  had 
not  yet  come ;  nor  was  mankind  yet  to  be  delivered 
from  its  sore  enemy,  —  pain.  It  probably  will  now  be 
allowed,  that  insensibility  to  pain  cannot  be  produced 
without  loss  of  consciousness  and  of  memory ;  and  it 
may  well  be  questioned,  whether  the  habitual  use  of 
ether  would  not  be  attended  with  as  ill  or  worse- 
effects  than  that  of  opium  or  alcohol.  Probably  there 
are  few  medical  men,  who,  if  now  called  upon  to  give 
up  one  of  the  two,  would  not  part  with  ether  and 
chloroform,  rather  than  with  opium. 


384:  ETHER    IN    SURGICAL    OPERATIONS.  [JET.  68. 

While  opium,  therefore,  must  still  hold  the  first 
rank  as  a  permanent  assuager  of  pain,  an  invaluable 
blessing  to  mankind,  ether  and  its  companions  or 
substitutes  have  settled  down  in  their  place  as  regular 
medical  agents.  General  opinion  has  become  adverse 
to  their  use  in  slight  cases :  but,  for  important  ope 
rations,  they  must  still  be  considered  invaluable ; 
and,  used  only  in  such  cases,  will  seldom  have  any 
permanent  ill  effect  upon  the  brain  or  the  general 
system. 

Dr.  Warren's  observations  upon  the  history  of  ether 
are  here  given  in  his  Biographical  Notes :  — 


BIOGRAPHICAL     NOTES. 

The  introduction  of  ether  into  surgical  operations  was 
done  by  my  hands.  Mr.  W.  T.  G.  Morton,  a  dentist,  of 
Boston,  called  on  me  to  say  he  had  found  the  means  of  pre 
venting  pain  in  surgical  operations  ;  and  he  was  so  sanguine 
in  regard  to  his  new  application,  that  I  agreed  to  employ  it 
on  the  first  opportunity. 

The  prevention  of  pain  in  surgical  operations  had  been  a 
subject  I  had  discussed  almost  annually  in  my  lectures.  I 
had  tried  many  experiments  myself,  and  had  allowed  mes- 
merites  and  magnetizers  to  make  their  trials. 

Nothing,  however,  had  the  desired  effect,  in  any  degree, 
but  opium ;  and  in  cases  which  threatened  to  be  very 
painful,  as  in  a  case  of  lithotomy,  if  I  saw  no  objection,  I 
was  in  the  habit  of  giving  to  grown  males  eight  or  ten 
grains,  with  some  degree  of  effect  in  obtunding  the  pain. 

The  use  of  ether,  after  a  few  trials,  became  quite  satis 
factory  ;  and,  from  that  time,  few  surgical  operations  were 


1846.]  ETHER    IN    SURGICAL    OPERATIONS.  385 

performed  in  Boston  without  it.  Many  hundred  operations 
have  been  done  by  Dr.  Mason  Warren  and  myself  with 
ether ;  and,  considering  the  great  power  of  this  agent,  it 
is  wonderful  we  are  able  to  say,  that  no  important  ill  conse 
quence  at  any  time  has  occurred. 

A  little  more  than  a  year  after  the  introduction  of  ether, 
Dr.  Simpson,  of  Edinburgh,  very  unluckily  introduced 
chloroform  as  a  substitute.  Chloroform  was  already  known 
to  chemists,  and  had  been  used  as  an  anaesthetic  by  Mr. 
Bell,  of  London,  the  previous  summer.  Soon  after,  a  series 
of  deaths  from  this  substance  began  to  take  place,  and 
continued,  till,  in  about  two  years,  twenty  deaths  had  oc 
curred.  Having  previously  published  "  Ether,  with  Surgical 
Remarks,"  containing  an  account  of  ether,  and  of  a  number 
of  surgical  cases  and  new  operations  in  which  it  had  been 
happily  employed,  I  felt  myself  bound  to  show  the  dan 
gerous  effects  of  chloroform,  and  to  warn  surgeons  against 
the  use  of  it.  Moreover,  I  thought  it  best  to  recommend 
ether  in  the  place  of  it,  or,  what  I  particularly  preferred, 
"  strong  chloric  ether,"  which  I  had  directed  to  be  pre 
pared  as  a  substitute.  This  is  preferable  to  the  other, 
with  the  exception  that  it  makes  the  face  smart ;  an  incon 
venience  which  can  be  avoided  by  rubbing  the  face  with 
ointment. 

The  first  publication  I  ever  made  on  ether  was  a  news 
paper  article,  soon  after  its  introduction.  I  also  wrote 
letters  to  the  South,  recommending  it ;  and  to  the  "  British 
and  Foreign  Medical  Review,"  in  London,  and  the  "  Paris 
Medical  Gazette."  In  the  latter  part  of  1847, 1  published 
"  Etherization,  with  Surgical  Remarks ;  "  and,  in  the  year 
after,  objections  to  chloroform  (effects  of  chloroform  and 
strong  chloric  ether  as  narcotic  agents).  I  should  also 
mention,  that,  as  much  as  forty  years  ago,  I  recommended 

49 


386  DISCOVERY    OF    ETHER.  [JET.  69. 

and  employed  sulphuric  ether  in  alleviating  the  last  pains, 
particularly  from  pulmonary  diseases.  In  such  a  way,  I 
employed  it  for  Thomas  Davis,  Esq.,  at  that  time  Treasurer 
of  the  State  ;  also  for  my  sister,  Mrs.  Brown,  to  relieve 
pain. 

About  two  years  before  Morton  made  his  application  to 
me,  Dr.  Wells,  of  Connecticut,  applied  for  leave  to  intro 
duce  the  nitrous  oxide,  or  exhilarating  gas,  in  the  Massa 
chusetts  Medical  College.  I  agreed  to  it ;  and  he  made  the 
trial,  but  not  with  such  success  as  to  command  attention. 
I  have  seen  it  used,  however,  since,  with  a  decided  anaes 
thetic  effect.  But  it  is  not  so  convenient  as  ether,  and  not 
so  safe ;  for  it  prevents  the  oxygenation  of  the  blood  to  an 
alarming  degree. 

It  was  not  until  some  time  after  I  had  used  ether,  that, 
in  a  conversation  between  Dr.  Charles  T.  Jackson,  Dr. 
Gould,  and  myself,  I  learned  that  it  was  on  the  suggestion 
of  Dr.  Jackson  that  Mr.  Morton  was  first  led  to  use  ether 
to  prevent  pain.  A  violent  controversy  subsequently  took 
place  between  Drs.  Jackson  and  Morton,  and  I  was  fre 
quently  appealed  to  for  evidence  on  the  subject.  The 
amount  of  what  I  know  may  be  comprised  in  few  words. 
Dr.  Jackson  suggested  the  use  of  ether  to  Morton,  and  Dr. 
Morton  first  employed  it  to  prevent  pain  in  the  extraction 
of  teeth ;  and,  at  his  request,  I  first  used  it  in  a  surgical 
operation.  Dr.  Jackson  has  also  stated  to  me,  that  he 
advised  Mr.  Morton  to  apply  to  me  to  use  it  in  a  surgical 
operation. 


1847.]  CHLOROFORM.  387 

"  Etherization  "  was  published  in  the  latter  part  of 
1847  ;  giving  the  results  derived  from  a  year's  expe 
rience  of  this  agent,  and  from  over  two  hundred 
cases  in  which  it  was  used,  or  its  employment  wit 
nessed,  by  the  writer.  It  forms  a  neat  little  volume 
of  one  hundred  pages,  and  gives  an  account  of  the 
operations  of  importance  in  which  it  had  been  used. 
At  the  Hospital  and  in  private  practice,  it  had  con 
tinued  to  be  used  with  uniform  success. 

By  request  of  a  distinguished  person  in  Canada, 
Dr.  Warren  prepared  an  article  for  the  "American 
Journal  of  Medical  Sciences"  for  April,  1849,  in 
which  he  goes  into  an  examination  of  the  effects  of 
chloroform  as  a  narcotic  agent. 

"  The  introduction  of  chloroform,"  he  says,  "  pro 
duced  an  excitement  scarcely  less  than  that  of  the 
discovery  of  the  narcotic  effect  of  ether.  The  beauty 
of  the  article,  and  the  rapidity  of  its  influence,  gave 
it  an  immediate  and  general  currency ;  for  not  only 
was  it  employed  by  physicians,  but  the  community 
took  the  narcotozing  drug  into  their  own  hands,  and, 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  indulged  themselves 
in  the  chloroform  excitement. 

"  We  were  soon  awakened  from  our  dreams  of  the 
delightful  influence  of  the  new  agent  by  the  occur 
rence  of  unfortunate  and  painful  consequences,  which 
had  not  followed  in  this  country  on  the  practice  of 
etherization." 

The  writer  goes  on  to  examine  the  different  cases 
which  had  been  reported  of  the  fatal  results  of  chlo- 


388  CHLOROFORM.  [JEn.  69. 

roform,  and  of  the  appearances  shown  by  post-mortem 
examinations. 

The  conclusion  which  he  forms  is,  "  that  chloro 
form,  containing  the  narcotic  principle  in  a  highly 
concentrated  state,  like  many  other  powerful  agents 
in  the  materia  medica,  although  it  may  be  employed 
in  this  state  in  some  instances,  yet,  in  common  prac 
tice,  should  be  used,  if  at  all,  in  a  diluted  form." 

On  hearing  of  the  fatal  cases  under  the  use  of 
chloroform,  Dr.  Warren  was  led  to  resume  his  expe 
riments  with  chloric  ether,  prepared,  by  his  order, 
in  a  highly  concentrated  state.  The  result  of  these 
experiments  was  favorable.  He  considered  it  as 
irritating  the  lungs  less,  its  inhalation  as  more  agree 
able  ;  and  it  never  produced  headache  in  the  operator 
or  the  bystanders,  as  was  sometimes  the  case  from 
sulphuric  ether. 

He  always  retained  his  preference  for  chloric 
ether.  It  does  not  seem,  however,  to  have  ever 
become  a  general  favorite.  Those  surgeons  who  had 
become  accustomed  to  the  use  of  sulphuric  ether 
adhered  to  it ;  while  the  effects  of  chloric  ether  were 
not  rapid  enough  for  those  who  had  become  used  to 
chloroform,  and  who  have  believed,  that,  when  pure, 
its  cautious  use,  in  proper  cases,  is  unattended  with 
danger.  Professor  Erichsen,  in  his  treatise  on  the 
"Science  and  Art  of  Surgery"  (second  edition,  1857), 
after  noticing  the  means  proposed  by  Dr.  Warren  for 
obviating  one  of  the  disadvantages  of  ether,  —  that 
of  irritating  the  cutaneous  surface  by  anointing  the 


1847.]  DEATHS    FROM    CHLOROFORM.  389 

face  with  some  protecting  unguent,  —  says,  "  The 
fatal  consequences  which  have  attended  the  employ 
ment  of  chloroform,  has  caused  the  American  sur 
geons  almost  entirely  to  trust  to  ether  in  preference. 
Certainly  ether  is  a  safer  agent  than  chloroform,  no 
death  having,  as  yet,  resulted  from  its  administration  ; 
and  the  only  argument  in  favor  of  the  use  of  chloro 
form  over  ether  is,  chloroform  is  the  most  convenient 
agent,  its  effects  being  produced  more  quickly,  and 
no  disagreeable  smell  being  left  behind,  as  is  the  case 
with  ether.  In  fact,  we  use  chloroform  in  preference 
to  ether,  on  the  same  principle  that  induces  us  to 
incur  the  increased  risk  of  an  express,  rather  than 
submit  to  the  slower  but  safer  progression  of  a  par 
liamentary  train." 

At  this  time,  also,  he  published  the  "Effects  of 
Chloroform  and  of  strong  Chloric  Ether  as  Narcotic 
Agents,"  —  a  little  work  of  sixty-six  pages,  in  the 
octavo  form. 

In  February,  1850,  he  contributed  for  the  "  Boston 
Medical  and  Surgical  Journal "  "  More  Deaths  from 
Chloroform."  Another  year  had  elapsed,  and  there 
had  now  been  eighteen  deaths  from  the  use  of  this 
article.  Perhaps,  when  it  is  considered  how  exten 
sively  this  -article  was  used,  not  only  by  professional 
men,  but  by  the  ignorant  and  the  careless  (often  for  the 
mere  purpose  of  amusement  or  the  pleasurable  feel 
ings  excited),  it  may  be  surprising  that  the  number 
was  not  greater.  It  was  enough,  however,  to  claim 
the  serious  and  earnest  attention  of  a  medical  man 


390  ETHER.  [JEn.  69. 

in  the  position  of  Dr.  Warren.  In  this  paper,  he 
gives  an  account  of  four  cases  of  death  from  chloro 
form.  It  must  be  considered  a  valuable  contribution 
to  the  history  of  anaesthetic  agents ;  and  doubtless, 
both  from  the  weight  of  his  authority  and  the  pub 
licity  given  to  the  fatal  cases,  contributed  greatly  to 
restrain  its  incautious  use.  The  comparative  slow 
ness  by  which  the  effects  of  the  ethers  are  produced, 
and  their  unpleasantness,  must  always  be  a  restraint 
upon  their  employment.  There  can  be  no  doubt, 
moreover,  that  the  disgrace  which  fell  upon  chloro 
form  has  acted  strongly  upon  ether,  rendering  the 
public  more  cautious  or  averse  to  it. 

In  concluding  the  subject  of  ether,  a  more  faithful 
portrait  of  the  operator  cannot  be  given  than  in  the 
following  extract  from  a  work  lately  published,  on  the 
"  Discovery  of  Etherization,"  by  N.  P.  Rice,  M.D. :  — 

"  The  anatomical  lecture  which  followed,  delivered  by  Dr. 
John  C.  Warren,  —  whose  recent  death  has  left  a  void  which 
can  never  be  filled,  and  whose  singular  request,  as  regards 
the  disposition  of  his  remains,  shows  the  devotee  of  science 
and  the  reasoning  man,  —  always  secured  a  crowd  of  eager 
students.  The  Venus  de  Medici  and  Belvidere  Apollo  (the 
first  in  marble,  the  second  in  plaster)  stood  sentinels  at  each 
side  of  the  door  which  he  entered.  A  long .  table  for  the 
reception  of  any  specimens  or  preparations  which  he  de 
signed  to  exhibit,  and  before  which  he  stood  when  lecturing, 
a  number  of  carefully  prepared  diagrams  and  models,  were 
all  that  disturbed  the  simple  character  of  the  room. 

"  The  Professor,  full  of  years  and  honors,  was  at  this  time 
in  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  and  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the 


1847.]  ETHER.  391 

confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-practitioners  and  the 
public.  .  .  . 

"  His  appearance  was  remarkable,  and  such  as  to  attract 
the  attention  of  every  one  who  came  in  contact  with  him. 
His  almost  painfully  thin  yet  upright  form  ;  his  high  fore 
head,  covered  with  scanty  gray  hair ;  his  shaggy  eyebrows 
shading  his  bright,  piercing  eye  ;    the  deep  lines   in  his 
strongly  marked  face,  —  all  showed  the  man  of  iron  will, 
and  cool,  fearless  determination.     Nor  was  this  in  any  way 
disproved  by  the  high,  brusk,  authoritative  tones  of  his  voice 
when  lecturing,  or  about   to   engage   in   some   operation. 
Here  the  wonderful  steadiness  of  his  hand,  the  unyielding, 
unimpressionable  character  of   his  nervous   system,  when 
interested  in  any  detail  of  his  profession,  showed  one  reason 
for  his  professional  success,  and  the  benefits  which  he  had 
been  enabled  to  confer  on  so  many  of  his  fellow-men.     It 
has  been  said  that  he  was  cold,  haughty,  and  even  unfeel 
ing  ;  that  he  looked  upon  and  cared  for  nothing  beyond  his 
own  success  and  reputation ;   that  he  regarded  suffering 
humanity  but  as  a  medium  for  the  exhibition  of  his  skill 
and  knowledge  :  but  how  well  was  this  afterward  disproved, 
when  he  had  given  up  the  active  exercise  of  his  profession ! 
To  him,  medicine,  the  world  over,  but  especially  in  Massa 
chusetts,  owes  much ;  and  his  strenuous  efforts  and  subse 
quent  success  in  the  legalization  of  dissection,  and  many 
dissertations  and  selected  cases,  will  bear  their  fruits  as  long 
as  the  ars  curandi  shall  remain  a  praiseworthy  pursuit  for 
man.     Nor  has  science  less  cause  to  thank  him  for  his  exer 
tions  ;    and    his    museum   of    comparative    anatomy,   and 
carefully  prepared  collection  of  fossil  remains,  remain  as 
enduring  monuments  of  his  patience  and   industry.     His 
lectures,  full  of  sound  instruction  for  the  student  of  sur 
gery,  and  of  simple,  plainly  stated  facts  for  the  novice  in 


392  ETHER.  [^ET.  G9. 

descriptive  anatomy,  were  freely  illustrated  by  cases  from 
his  varied  and  extensive  practice,  together  with  such  bits  of 
information  as  he  knew  would  prove  useful,  and  which 
could  not  be  acquired  in  any  other  way.  Peace  to  his 
ashes !  and  may  honor  always  cling  to  the  memory  of  this 
high-minded,  humane  man  and  bold  surgeon,  whose  happy 
lot  it  was  to  be  the  first  to  use  publicly  (regardless  of 
sneers  and  doubts)  that  soother  of  anguish,  whose  advent  he 
rejoiced  in  as  much  as  the  many  whose  sufferings  it  re 
lieved  ! " 


1847.]  RESIGNATION    OF    PROFESSORSHIP.  393 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

RESIGNATION   OF   HIS   PROFESSORSHIP.  —  LECTURES. 

IN  November,  1846,  Dr.  Warren  formed  the  reso 
lution  to  resign  his  professorship  in  Harvard  College, 
and  wrote  a  letter  to  that  effect ;  but,  after  a  conver 
sation  with  President  Everett,  he  concluded  to  defer 
it  for  that  time. 

On  the  15th  of  February  next,  however,  he  sent  in 
his  resignation.  On  the  2d  of  March,  1847,  he  gave 
his  last  lecture  to  the  medical  class,  it  being  the 
termination  of  the  course  for  the  season.  A  very 
large  audience  was  present;  consisting  not  only  of 
physicians  and  students,  but  of  many  gentlemen 
from  other  professions.  After  a  brief  history  of  the 
medical  institution,  the  professor  went  on  to  give 
some  advice  to  the  students  as  to  their  future  career. 
He  advises  them  to  cultivate  in  their  leisure  the 
higher  branches  of  the  literature  of  their  profession, 
to  cultivate  a  kind  and  cheerful  spirit,  and  to  evince  a 
sympathy  for  their  patients.  He  dwells  particularly 
upon  the  conduct  due  from  one  medical  man  to 
another,  avoiding  every  thing  that  may  be  to  the 
prejudice  of  a  rival  practitioner.  "  Prosecutions  for 
mal-practice,  which  have  become  so  frequent,"  he 
says,  "  have  almost  always  been  traced  to  the  private 

50 


394  VALEDICTORY    LECTURE.  [>ET.  69. 

hostility  of  a  rival  in  the  professional  career.  It  may 
be  said,  that,  while  they  deeply  wound  the  character 
of  the  party  assailed,  their  malignant  influence  almost 
always  extends  to  him  from  whom  they  had  their 
origin."  He  concluded  by  wishing  for  the  students  a 
continued  zeal  in  the  prosecution  of  their  studies,  and 
abundant  opportunities  of  relieving  the  poor;  an 
adequate  reward  for  their  labors  from  the  rich;  and, 
above  all,  a  conscientious  discharge  of  their  duties 
through  life. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Corporation,  upon  the 
resignation  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Warren,  are  given  below :  — 

At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the 
University,  in  Boston,  Feb.  27,  1847,  the  President  laid 
before  the  Corporation  the  following  communication  from 
Dr.  Warren,  resigning  his  professorship.  (Here  follows  in 
the  records  a  copy  of  Dr.  Warren's  letter.) 

Whereupon,  Voted,  That,  in  accepting  the  resignation  of 
Dr.  Warren  as  Hersey  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery, 
this  Board  is  deeply  sensible  of  the  important  services 
rendered  to  the  University  by  Dr.  Warren,  and  holds  in 
grateful  recollection  the  successful  exertions  made  by  him 
for  a  period  of  more  than  forty  years,  and  in  continuance  of 
those  of  his  honored  father,  to  raise  the  character  and  pro 
mote  the  interests  of  the  Medical  School. 

Voted,  That  Dr.  Warren  be  requested  to  continue  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office  till  the  close  of  the 
present  academic  year. 

Voted,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  communicate 
to  Dr.  Warren  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  votes,  with  the  assu 
rance  that  this  Board  cordially  reciprocates  the  friendly  and 


1847.]  RESIGNATION    OF    PROFESSORSHIP.  395 

respectful  sentiments   expressed   towards   the   Corporation 
and  the  University  in  his  letter  of  resignation. 

On  vote  by  ballot,  Dr.  John  C.  Warren  was  chosen 
Emeritus  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery  in  the  Univer 
sity,  in  consideration  of  his  faithful  and  valuable  services 
as  Hersey  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery. 

A  true  copy  of  record, 

JAMES  WALKER,  Secretary. 

This  terminated  the  connection  which  he  had  held 
for  forty  years  with  Harvard  College  as  Professor  of 
Anatomy  and  Surgery. 

Dr.  Holmes,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Warren  in  the  pro 
fessorship  of  anatomy,  gave  the  Introductory  Lecture 
to  the  course,  upon  the  13th  of  November,  1847. 

After  alluding  to  the  advanced  state  of  the  science 
of  medicine  in  New  England,  he  pays  a  warm  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  the  first  incumbent  and  virtual 
founder  of  the  professorship,  whose  eloquence  was 
such,  "  that  the  dryest  bone  of  the  human  body  became 
in  his  hands  the  subject  of  animated  and  agreeable 
description."  Alluding  to  the  many  monuments  of 
his  skill  and  industry  which  enrich  the  collection  at 
the  Medical  College,  he  goes  on  to  say :  — 

"  His  name  would  have  been  daily  on  our  lips,  had  not  a 
still  longer  life,  one  still  more  crowded  with  scientific  and 
practical  achievements,  quenched,  in  the  broad  light  of  the 
present,  the  decaying  splendors  of  the  past. 

"  I  shall  not  anticipate  the  task  of  another,  at  some  future, 
and,  as  we  trust,  far-distant  period,  by  enumerating  all  that 
is  memorable  in  the  public  and  professional  life  of  my  imme- 


396  INTRODUCTORY    LECTURE.  \_JEfl.  69. 

diate  predecessor  in  this  office.  But  his  long  devotion  to 
its  duties,  and  the  almost  unparalleled  fidelity  with  which, 
in  the  midst  of  countless  distractions,  he  continued  for  year 
after  year  to  give  his  hours  to  the  students  of  science, — 
hours  which  no  importunity  could  win,  and  no  gold  could 
purchase,  —  these  claims  to  our  gratitude  it  cannot  be  inde 
licate  to  mention.  And  at  the  close  of  this  life-long  series 
of  services,  as  he  gave  into  younger  hands  the  task  which 
no  premature  infirmity  had  made  too  laborious  for  his  own, 
the  crowning  act  of  liberality  in  bestowing  his  ample  collec 
tions,  and  the  noble  endowment  with  which  they  were 
accompanied,  cannot  be  passed  over  without  one  hearty  and 
unstudied  outbreak  of  the  feelings  called  forth  by  every 
generous  act  from  every  heart  capable  of  any  honest  emo 
tion.  The  wanderer  among  the  monuments  of  the  dead 
may  read  the  following  words  upon  the  tombstone  of  the 
elder  Warren :  — 

Medicus  inter  primes, 
Chirurgus  facile  princeps, 

NovangliEe 

Primam  medicina?  scholam 

Ipsius  laboribus  fundatam, 

Per  XXX  annos 

Doctrina  sustulit, 

Eloquentia  illuminavit. 

"  There  is  another  inscription  which  might  be  written 
upon  marble  ;  but  no  lapidary  is  needed  to  carve  the  legend 
deeper  than  it  will  be  engraved  in  its  simple  truth  in  the 
memory  of  this  and  succeeding  generations :  — 

Filius  patre  dignus 

Novangliee 

Prrmam  medicinse  scholam 

Per  XL  annos 

Ingenio  ornavit, 

Celebritate  illustravit ; 

In  omne  aevum 
Munificentia  amplificavit." 


1847.]  LECTURES.  397 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

My  father  being  Professor  of  Anatomy,  I  was  naturally 
led,  when  I  began  to  study  medicine,  to  think  of  following 
him  in  this  course.  This  was,  however,  an  occasional 
thought  only  ;  for  I  had  not  then,  nor  for  many  years  after, 
a  sufficient  degree  of  confidence  to  lead  me  to  believe  I 
should  ever  be  able  to  fill  such  a  place  with  satisfaction  to 
myself  or  to  others.  But  attending  lectures  of  various 
professors,  and  taking  notes  (which  I  always  did),  I  became 
gradually  interested  in  the  matter  of  lecturing.  In  Edin 
burgh,  I  joined  the  Royal  Physical  Society.  This  society 
met  once  a  week,  or  once  a  fortnight,  and  occupied  itself 
in  discussing  medical  questions  previously  given  out. 
There  were  two  such  societies,  —  one  called  the  Royal 
Medical ;  and  the  other,  the  Royal  Physical.  The  former 
was  resorted  to  by  the  English  and  Scotch  students ;  the 
latter,  by  the  American  and  Irish.  Every  student  paid 
from  three  to  five  guineas  on  entrance.  From  the  fund 
thus  raised,  which  was  very  large,  a  handsome  stone  build 
ing  was  erected,  and  a  large  and  valuable  library  was 
formed.  When  a  question  was  proposed,  it  required  a  good 
deal  of  study  to  dilate  on  it  in  the  presence  of  a  large  body 
of  sharp-witted  students.  The  debates  were  conducted  in 
a  very  orderly  way,  and  some  bright  thoughts  were  occa 
sionally  struck  out  in  them.  Cullen's  nervous  theory  was 
said  to  have  been  first  developed  in  the  Royal  Medical 
Society ;  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  the  Brunonian  theory  of 
stimulus  and  collapse  was  broached  and  defended  in  the 
Royal  Physical  Society.  When  I  found  courage  enough  to 
address  this  society,  it  occurred  to  me,  I  might,  perhaps,  be 
able  to  lecture  ;  and  the  many  societies  in  which  I  engaged 
after  I  returned  home  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  acquiring 


398  LECTURES.  [^ET.  69. 


some  degree  of  habit  and  confidence.  The  latter  quality, 
however,  I  never  possessed  in  a  degree  sufficient  to  make  a 
good  speaker  ;  and  the  want  of  it,  till  lately,  induced  occa 
sionally  a  nervous  state,  which  interfered  with  a  due  degree 
of  self-possession.  Perhaps  I  did  not  take  sufficient  pains 
in  elaborating  my  language  previous  to  speaking.  My  plan 
was  to  study  the  subject  of  the  lecture,  whatever  it  might 
be,  thoroughly,  and  then  put  on  paper  notes  arranged 
methodically  into  divisions  and  subdivisions,  so  that  there 
might  be,  in  regard  to  the  lungs,  for  example,  five  general 
divisions,  —  situation,  form,  volume,  consistence,  color. 
Then,  in  another  lecture,  would  come  structure,  with  its 
divisions  and  subdivisions.  I  made  a  point  always  to  illus 
trate  each  part  by  physiological  and  practical  remarks,  or 
by  some  peculiar  and  striking  display  of  the  parts  demon-" 
strated  ;  but  was  always  a  little  apt  to  hurry,  from  the 
apprehension  of  being  tedious.  The  only  thing  that  carried 
me  along  comfortably  was  a  knowledge  of  the  fact,  that  my 
lectures  were  always  attended  at  least  as  fully  as  any  others  ; 
and  at  Cambridge,  where  the  accommodation  was  not 
great,  the  lecture-room  was  overflowed.  In  the  Cambridge 
course,  I  made  it  a  constant  object  to  direct  the  thoughts  of 
the  students  in  such  a  way  as  to  produce  some  practical 
moral  improvement.  To  manage  this  effectually,  without 
getting  among  tlie  students  the  reputation  of  sermonizing, 
which  would  have  been  apt  to  defeat  my  object,  was  not 
always  easy.  But  I  have  constantly  had  the  satisfaction  of 
learning,  from  those  who  attended  medical  lectures,  that 
they  had  derived  information  which  had  been  very  impor 
tant  to  them  in  the  conduct  of  life. 

The  most  difficult  lectures  to  deliver,  in  my  course,  were 
those  on  the  surgical  operations.  The  labor  here  was  double  : 
first,  of  describing  the  anatomy,  pathology,  and  practice  of  an 


1847.]  LECTURES.  399 

operation  ;  and,  secondly,  of  doing  the  operation  in  a  cor 
rect  and  striking  manner.  This  could  be  accomplished  only 
by  great  practice  of  all  possible  operations  on  the  dead 
body ;  but,  as  there  were  never  sufficient  subjects  at  com 
mand,  it  was  necessary  to  do  this  at  other  times,  when 
subjects  and  time  could  be  commanded.  So  I  generally 
spent  some  weeks,  after  the  lectures  concluded,  in  going 
through  all  the  operations  which  are  known,  and  all  that  I 
could  devise  ;  and  always,  when  time  permitted,  I  went 
through  the  manoeuvres  of  the  operation  before  the  lecture, 
so  far  as  was  practicable.  For  example,  fistula  lachrymalis, 
passing  probangs,  &c.,  always  required  previous  operation 
to  ascertain  that  there  was  no  insuperable  obstacle  to  its 
performance.  Ultimately,  I  became  able  to  do  the  opera 
tions  in  a  more  satisfactory  way,  by  being  careful  not  to 
attempt  too  much  in  one  lecture.  I  was  often  obliged, 
however,  to  do  eight  or  ten  amputations  in  a  single  lecture, 
and  do  them  all  with  precision  and  effect.  When  it  is  con 
sidered  that  the  lectures  were  given  in  the  midst  of  a  full 
practice,  and  I  was  often  delayed  by  inevitable  occurrences 
from  being  at  the  lecture-room  seasonably  to  dissect  and 
prepare  the  subject,  and  as  I  always  made  a  point  of 
beginning  punctually,  it  will  readily  be  seen  that  there  was 
much  danger  of  imperfection  in  my  anatomical  demonstra 
tions.  I  was  necessarily  compelled,  before  lecturing,  to  go 
over  every  part  which  had  been  dissected,  to  remove  its  im 
perfections  and  supply  its  deficiencies.  The  arrangements 
preliminary  to  the  presentation  of  each  part  to  the  student's 
eye  required  a  good  deal  of  thought,  time,  and  practical 
tact.  If  I  was  to  do  the  same  work  over  again,  I  would  not 
attempt  .to  lecture  and  practise  at  the  same  time.  It  is 
impossible  to  give  a  course  of  lectures  on  anatomy  consist 
ently  with  a  full  medical  practice.  My  anatomical  lectures 


400  LECTURES.  [JET.  69. 

were,  for  many  years,  six  a  week,  besides  hospital  visits  and 
operations ;  and  for  some  time,  besides  the  lectures  on 
anatomy  and  surgery,  I  gave  an-  additional  lecture  in  the 
evening,  once  or  twice  a  week,  on  the  principles  of  surgery. 
How  this  was  accomplished,  I  cannot  now  understand, — 
accomplished,  I  mean,  without  my  being  overpowered  by 
the  pressure.  But,  in  fact,  although  exhausted  by  the 
effort  of  descriptive  and  demonstrative  lectures,  I  never 
felt  any  general  failure  of  strength  from  this  cause.  So  far 
as  depended  on  me,  this  arose  from,  first,  method ;  second, 
careful  living ;  third,  getting  a  little  repose  in  the  day. 

First,  as  to  plan.  My  arrangements  for  the  day  were 
made  on  the  evening  before,  by  making  a  regular  list  of  my 
patients  to  be  visited,  and  by  arranging  in  my  own  mind 
other  affairs  to  be  done.  For  the  latter  I  trusted  to 
memory,  and  rarely  made  any  note ;  the  reason  of  which 
omission  has  been,  that  I  did  not  feel  the  want  of  such 
a  memorandum.  Such  an  omission,  however,  I  should  not 
recommend  to  others  ;  unless,  as  happened  to  Sir  John 
Richardson,  they  were  in  the  habit  of  neglecting  to  consult 
their  written  memoranda.  I  made  an  arrangement  one 
evening  with  him  to  call  for  him  with  my  carriage  the  next 
morning  at  half-past  eight.  He  took  a  note  of  the  engage 
ment.  When  I  arrived  on  the  following  morning,  he  had 
gone  out.  I  thought,  at  first,  it  was  from  a  misunderstand 
ing  of  the  time ;  but  he  called  on  me  a  few  hours  after,  and, 
apologizing  very  handsomely,  said  he  had  trusted  altogether 
to  his  notes  for  the  recollection,  but  had  unluckily  forgotten 
to  examine  them. 

In  regard  to  the  second  head,  —  that  is,  careful  living,  — 
my  general  plan  has  been  to  rise  at  half-past  five,  A.M.,  in 
summer,  and  at  half-past  six  in  winter ;  to  breakfast, 
taking  about  a  gill  or  a  gill  and  a  half  of  liquid  (usually 


1847.]  LECTURES.  401 

coffee),  four  or  five  ounces  of  bread,  and  a  little  meat  of 
some  kind ;  tea,  the  same,  with  rather  an  increase 
of  liquid;  at  dinner,  about  a  gill  of  liquid,  —  more  in  hot 
weather,  —  two  or  three  ounces  of  animal  food,  and  five  or 
six  of  vegetable.  For  the  last  twenty  or  thirty  years,  fric 
tions  morning  and  evening,  with  a  large  circular  brush 
which  I  introduced  into  Boston,  and  partial  baths:  but, 
within  the  last  ten  years,  I  have  employed  the  shower-bath, 
with  frictions  before  and  after  the  bath,  every  morning ; 
and  frictions,  without  the  bath,  every  evening.  Another 
practice  I  will  mention  is  to  walk  in  my  room  every  even 
ing.  This  plan  I  adopted  a  great  number  of  years  ago,  as 
a  substitute  for  foot-exercise  in  the  course  of  the  day  ;  being 
compelled,  particularly  in  the  winter  during  the  lectures,  to 
ride  altogether. 

The  disuse  of  wine  as  an  article  of  luxury  has  been  a  great 
advantage.  The  accidental  taking  of  any  considerable  quan 
tity  of  animal  fat  has  always  seemed  to  paralyze  my  stomach. 
This  leads  me  to  remark  on  the  general  state  of  my  health. 
Indigestion  never  troubled  me  seriously  till  about  the 
age  of  thirty.  I  then  attributed  it  to  the  frequent  dining 
with  military  companies  ;  the  long-drawn  dinners,  and  use  of 
much  wine  on  those  occasions.  The  same  causes,  I  suppose, 
brought  on  the  habit  of  constipation,  which  has  required 
constant  attention. 

About  the  year  1825, 1  found  out  the  use  of  bread  made 
of  unbolted  flour,  and  introduced  it  into  Boston,  though  with 
great  difficulty  and  much  ridicule.  An  improvement  on 
this  I  introduced  in  1846,  in  a  still  coarser  wheat,  broken 
up  finer  than  common  hominy,  and  taken  simply  in  the 
boiled  state  with  some  condiment.  I  consider  these  two  to 
be  great  and  valuable  improvements,  and,  for  most  people, 
the  best  way  of  remedying  the  common  trouble  of  constipa- 

51 


402  LECTURES.  [JET.  69. 

tion.  Riding  on  horseback,  also,  was  very  beneficial  to  the 
action  of  the  digestive  organs.  This  I  followed  from  the 
age  of  ten  years  to  that  of  sixty  and  over.  I  sometimes 
took  journeys  on  horseback.  Although  always  subject  to 
colds  from  very  slight  causes,  I  do  not  recollect  any  indis 
position  of  importance  not  dependent  on  indigestion.  I 
had  a  slight  febrile  attack  in  Paris  in  1801,  and  in  Boston 
in  1820  ;  but  nothing  serious  in  either  case.  Attacks  of 
colic,  and  cramp  in  the  stomach,  have  sometimes  been  very 
formidable.  I  had  a  very  serious  attack  in  Liverpool  after 
the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  in  1837.  This 
seemed  to  arise  from  too  much  bread  and  butter  for  tea,  in 
a  state  of  exhaustion.  But  I  always  thought  the  decompo 
sition  of  the  sugar  in  three  -cups  of  tea  was  the  principal 
agent  in  bringing  on  the  cramp.  Since  that  time,  from 
greater  care,  I  have  avoided  any  serious  attacks.  In  1848, 
the  season  cholera  began  to  prevail  a  second  time  in  Europe, 
there  was  a  peculiar  diarrhoea,  which  pervaded  the  whole 
of  this  country,  but  no  cholera,  that  year.  In  the  month  of 
June,  having,  for  the  first  time,  taken  off  an  under-waistcoat 
in  the  morning,  and  it  coming  on  to  rain  a  little  in  the  after 
noon,  a  chill  occurred,  which  was  followed  by  fever  and 
diarrhoea.  This  diarrhoea,  though  often  checked,  continued 
till  the  beginning  of  November  in  the  same  year ;  cut  me 
off  in  a  great  measure  from  fruits  that  season,  and  confined 
me  to  a  regimen  of  white  bread,  meat,  and  rice ;  this  in 
restricted  quantities,  with  very  little  drink.  At  the  end  of 
October,  I  got  a  violent  catarrh  ;  and,  having  taken  accident 
ally  some  indigestible  food  at  breakfast,  the  catarrh  suddenly 
ceasing,  had  chills,  pain  in  my  stomach,  and  vomiting,  fol 
lowed  by  fever  and  marks  of  gastric  inflammation.  When 
this  subsided,  the  diarrhoea  had  also  vanished,  and  has  never 
returned ;  but  a  more  healthy  state  of  the  digestive  organs 


1847.]  LECTURES.  403 

has  existed  to  the  present  time  (Dec.  29, 1849),  which  is 
more  than  a  year. 

These  facts  of  a  personal  and  apparently  insignificant 
nature  I  put  down  with  some  hesitation  ;  but  this  has  been 
overcome  by  the  reflection,  that  they  may  be  useful  to 
others,  and  especially  to  my  own  family. 

On  the  whole,  the  care  I  have  taken  about  living  seems 
inadequate  to  counterbalance  the  numerous  and  important 
causes  of  disease  and  decay ;  and,  although  something  may 
be  attributed  to  those  efforts,  my  feeling  on  the  subject  is, 
that  a  continuance  of  my  life  and  faculties  to  the  present 
time  must  be  attributed  principally  to  Divine  Providence, 
and  not  to  my  own  care. 


404  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  ^ET.  69. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  —  PREPARATIONS. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTES. 

No  occurrences  in  the  course  of  my  life  have  given  me  more 
trouble  and  anxiety  than  the  procuring  of  subjects  for  dis 
section  in  the  medical  lectures.  My  father  began  to  dissect 
early  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  obtained  the  office  of 
Army  Surgeon  when  the  Revolution  broke  out,  and  was 
able  to  procure  a  multitude  of  subjects  from  having  access 
to  the  bodies  of  soldiers  who  had  died  without  relations. 
In  consequence  of  these  opportunities,  he  began  to  lecture 
on  anatomy  in  1781 ;  lectures  at  Cambridge,  with  dissec 
tions,  1783.  After  the  peace,  there  was  great  difficulty  in 
getting  subjects.  Bodies  of  executed  criminals  were  occa 
sionally  procured ;  and  sometimes  a  pauper  subject  was 
obtained,  averaging  not  more  than  two  a  year.  While  in 
college,  I  began  the  business  of  getting  subjects  in  1796. 
Having  understood  that  a  man  without  relations  was  to  be 
buried  in  the  North  Burying-ground,  I  formed  a  party,  of 
which  Dr.  William  Ingalls  was  one.  He  was  a  physician  of 
Boston  at  that  time.  We  reached  the  spot  at  ten  o'clock  at 
night.  The  night  was  rather  light.  We  soon  found  the 
grave ;  but,  after  proceeding  a  while,  were  led  to  suspect  a 
mistake,  and  went  to  another  place.  Here  we  found  our- 


1847.]  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  405 

selves  wrong,  and  returned  to  the  first ;  and,  having  set 
watches,  we  proceeded  rapidly,  uncovering  the  coffin  by 
breaking  it  open.  We  took  out  the  body  of  a  stout  young 
man,  put  it  in  a  bag,  and  carried  it  to  the  burying-ground 
wall.  As  we  were  going  to  lift  it  over  and  put  it  in  the 
chaise,  we  saw  a  man  walking  along  the  edge  of  the  wall 
outside,  smoking.  A  part  of  us  disappeared.  One  of  the 
company  met  him,  stopped  him  from  coming  on,  and  entered 
into  conversation  with  him.  This  individual  of  our  party 
affected  to  be  intoxicated,  while  he  contrived  to  get  into  a 
quarrel  with  the  stranger.  After  he  had  succeeded  in  doing 
this,  another  of  the  party,  approaching,  pretended  to  side  with 
the  stranger,  and  ordered  the  other  to  go  about  his  business. 
Taking  the  stranger  by  the  arm,  he  led  him  off  in  a  different 
direction  to  some  distance ;  then  left  him,  and  returned  to 
the  burying-ground.  The  body  was  then  quickly  taken 
up,  and  packed  in  the  chaise  between  two  of  the  parties, 
who  drove  off  to  Cambridge  with  their  booty.  Two  of  us 
staid  to  fill  the  grave  :  but  my  companion,  being  alarmed, 
soon  left  the  burying-ground  ;  and  I,  knowing  the  impor 
tance  of  covering  up  the  grave  and  effacing  the  vestiges 
of  our  labor,  remained,  with  no  very  agreeable  sensations, 
to  finish  the  work.  However,  I  got  off  without  further 
interruption  ;  drove,  with  the  tools,  to  Cambridge ;  and 
arrived  there  just  before  daylight.  When  my  father  came 
up  in  the  morning  to  lecture,  and  found  I  had  been 
engaged  in  this  scrape,  he  was  very  much  alarmed ;  but 
when  the  body  was  uncovered,  and  he  saw  what  a  fine 
healthy  subject  it  was,  he  seemed  to  be  as  much  pleased  as  I 
ever  saw  him.  This  body  lasted  the  course  through. 

Things  went  on  in  this  way  till  the  year  1806  ;  when,  with 
the  co-operation  of  my  father,  I  opened  a  dissecting-room  at 
49,  Marlborough  Street.  Here,  by  the  aid  of  students,  a 


406  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  [&T.  69. 


large  supply  of  bodies  was  obtained  for  some  years,  affording 
abundant  means  of  dissection  to  physicians  and  students. 
In  the  mean  time,  however,  schools  began  to  be  formed  in 
other  parts  of  New  England,  and  students  were  sent  to 
Boston  to  procure  subjects.  The  exhumations  were  con 
ducted  in  a  careless  way.  Thus  the  suspicion  of  the  police 
was  excited  :  they  were  directed  to  employ  all  the  pre 
ventive  measures  possible  ;  and  watchers  were  set  in  the 
burying-grounds.  Thus  the  procuring  of  bodies  was  very 
much  diminished  ;  and  we  were  obliged  to  resort  to  the  most 
dangerous  expedients,  and  finally  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
at  a  great  expense  of  money,  and  great  hazard  of  being 
discovered.  Two  or  three  times,  our  agents  were  actually 
seized  by  the  police,  and  recognized  to  appear  in  court. 
One  or  two  were  brought  in  guilty,  and  punished  by  fine  ; 
but  the  law  officers,  being  more  liberal  in  their  views  than 
the  city  officers,  made  the  penalty  as  small  as  possible. 
Constant  efforts  were  necessary  to  carry  on  this  business, 
and  every  species  of  danger  was  involved  in  its  prosecu 
tion. 

Among  the  incidents  which  took  place  at  that  time,  I 
will  mention  the  following.  I  had  with  me  at  that  period 
two  medical  students,  who  were  remarkable  for  strength  of 
body  and  mind.  I  requested  these  two  young  men  to  pro 
cure  a  subject  for  dissection..  They  watched  one  going 
from  the  Alms-house  to  the  burial-ground  on  the  Neck,  which 
was  appropriated  exclusively  for  the  interment  of  paupers. 
They  marked  the  grave  where  this  body  was  deposited  by 
placing  a  piece  of  stick  in  it  ;  and  soon  after  twelve  o'clock, 
having  carefully  noted  the  visit  and  retirement  of  the  watch, 
they  proceeded  to  open  the  grave  and  remove  the  body. 
The  grave  being  again  filled,  F.  went  into  town  to  obtain  a 
wagon  he  had  engaged  ;  T.  remaining  in  the  neighborhood, 


1847.]  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  407 

where  he  could  observe  the  return  of  F.  It  would  have 
required  less  than  five  minutes  to  have  removed  the  body 
into  the  wagon  :  but  no  sooner  had  they  halted  at  the 
burial-ground,  than  a  party  of  watchmen,  who  had  concealed 
themselves  within  the  wall,  sprang  upon  them,  seized  T., 
and  attempted  to  arrest  F.  ;  but  the  latter  sprang  upon  his 
cart,  laid  the  lash  upon  his  horse,  and  went  off  at  full  speed, 
dragging  with  him  two  or  three  watchmen  some  distance. 
He  soon  got  rid  of  them,  and  went  off  into  the  country.  In 
the  mean  time,  T.  was  conducted  by  two  watchmen  through 
Washington  Street  (or  Orange  Street,  as  it  was  then  called), 
towards  the  nearest  watch-house.  As  he  passed  along  the 
western  sidewalk  of  the  Neck,  with  a  watchman  on  each 
arm,  he  perceived  an  opening  in  the  fence  towards  the 
marsh,  now  called  Back  Bay.  Suddenly  disengaging  himself 
from  the  watchmen,  he  passed  through  the  opening  of  the 
fence,  leaped  down  the  embankments  by  its  side  into  the 
great  open  space  below,  where  from  the  darkness,  and  want 
of  paths,  it  was  impossible  to  follow  him.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  watchmen,  defrauded  of  their  prey,  sprung  their  rattles, 
filled  the  town  with  their  cries,  set  all  the  bells  a-ringing,  to 
the  great  enjoyment  of  T.,  who,  plodding  his  way  cau 
tiously  through  marsh,  water,  and  ditch,  heard  all  this 
riot,  of  which  he  was  the  object.  Reaching  the  Western 
Avenue,  he  ascended  the  wall,  and  then  walked  deliberately 
to  the  toll-house,  where,  stopping  to  pay  the  toll,  he  found 
a  number  of  men  there,  of  whom  he  asked  the  cause  of 
the  disturbance  which  had  been  going  on.  One  of  the 
men,  surveying  him  closely,  clapped  his  hand  upon  him, 
and  said,  "  You  are  the  cause :  you  are  my  prisoner.''  It 
seems  that  these  men  had  preceded  him  through  the  streets, 
and  watched  his  approach  to  the  Western  Avenue.  Once 
more  a  brace  of  watchmen  set  out  to  conduct  T.  to  a 


408  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  [JET.  69. 

watch-house.  When  they  reached  the  corner  of  Beacon 
Street  and  Charles  Street,  he  said  to  the  men,  "  Why  are 
you  treating  me  in  this  way  ?  I  have  done  you  no  harm." 
Thrown  a  little  off  their  guard  by  this  question,  their  atten 
tion  was  relaxed  ;  and,  with  a  violent  effort,  he  extricated 
himself  from  their  arms,  ran  up  an  open  space  between 
Chestnut  Street  and  Mount -Vernon  Street,  and  had  gained  a 
considerable  advance  on  his  pursuers,  when  a  third  watch 
man  started  out  immediately  upon  him  from  Willow  Street, 
and  seized  him.  By  another  great  effort,  T.  tore  himself 
from  the  watchman,  darted  up  Mount -Yernon  Street  as  far 
as  Belknap  Street ;  then,  turning  into  Belknap  Street,  he 
passed  into  the  yard  of  Mr.  George  Lyman's  house,  which 
was  then  building,  threw  himself  into  a  mass  of  shavings, 
and,  before  his  pursuers  could  ascertain  which  way  he  had 
turned,  was  quite  covered  with  fine  shavings.  The  disap 
pointed  watchmen  tramped  over  the  shavings  in  every  direc 
tion  without  being  able  to  discover  his  whereabout,  and, 
slowly  winding  their  way  down  the  hill,  left  him  to  enjoy  a 
short  repose  ;  after  which  he  arose,  and  made  his  way 
homeward  without  farther  interruption.  F.,  in  the  mean 
while,  had  a  quiet  time  in  the  country,  amused  himself 
with  driving  about  till  morning,  and  then  returned  unsus 
pected  to  town.  He  is  still  living,  in  good  health  and 
prosperity ;  but  has  found  a  business  more  lucrative  than 
the  medical  profession,  and  pursues  the  latter  only  as  a 
matter  of  humanity.  T.  unhappily  did  not  escape  so  well. 
The  violent  efforts  which  he  made  in  running,  and  extricat 
ing  himself  from  his  pursuers,  brought  on  hemorrhage  from 
the  lungs.  He  afterwards,  although  quite  a  stout  and  well- 
formed  young  man,  had  a  return  of  his  complaint,  followed 
by  cough,  which  terminated  in  consumption,  and  carried 
him  to  a  premature  grave.  He  was  a  real  loss  to  society. 


1847.]  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  409 

His  mental  and  bodily  faculties  were  in  due  proportion  to 
each  other,  and  both  of  them  were  of  an  elevated  character. 
When  we  consider  that  this  fine  young  man  fell  a  victim  to 
narrow-minded  prejudices,  we  involuntarily  ask  whether 
we  had  gone  back  to  the  times  of  superstition  and  witch 
craft. 

At  that  time,  scarcely  any  exhumation  occurred  without 
some  similar  accidents  of  the  most  disagreeable  and  some 
times  painful  character.  The  record  of  them  would  make  a 
black-book,  which,  though  the  odium  of  it  should  belong  to 
few  individuals,  would  do  no  credit  to  the  enlightenment  of 
Boston  in  the  nineteenth  century,  and  convey  an  idea 
of  the  state  of  feeling  of  a  professor  of  anatomy  on  the 
approach  and  during  the  course  of  his  anatomical  pur 
suits. 

Sometimes  popular  excitement  was  got  up,  and  the 
Medical  College  threatened.  I  had  reason,  at  some  periods, 
even  to  apprehend  attacks  on  my  dwelling-house.  When 
ever  the  lectures  approached,  a  state  of  incessant  anxiety 
came  with  them.  At  length  the  pressure  was  so  great,  that 
it  was  resolved  to  make  an  effort  on  the  Legislature,  though 
with  very  little  hope  of  success.  In  the  mean  time,  we 
furnished  our  students  with  subjects  at  the  same  rate  as  at 
present,  —  obtaining  them  from  New  York  at  twenty-five 
dollars,  and  distributing  them  among  the  students  at  five ; 
and  I  usually  contrived  to  save  portions  of  subjects  suffi 
cient  to  occupy  some  hours  every  day  from  the  conclusion 
of  the  lectures  in  Boston  in  March  to  the  beginning  of  the 
course  at  Cambridge  on  the  1st  of  April. 

At  these  times  I  made  many  preparations,  besides  super 
intending  and  directing  those  of  my  students.  Among  those 
who  aided  me  most  efficiently,  I  can  recollect  Drs.  Gamage, 
already  mentioned ;  Edward  Warren,  Wyman,  George 

52 


410  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  [JEx.  69. 

Parkman  (afterwards  murdered  in  the  new  Medical  Col 
lege,  to  the  erection  of  which  he  had  contributed)  ;  Drs.  J. 
M.  Warren,  Samuel  Parkman,  and  Lewis.  Preparations 
were  given  me  from  time  to  time  by  Drs.  James  Jackson, 
John  Gorham,  Spaulding  of  Portsmouth,  Lewis,  J.  B.  S. 
Jackson,  Alexander  E.  Hosack. 

I  always  did  a  part  of  the  dissection  for  the  lectures, 
completing  what  had  been  partly  done  before  ;  and  I  always 
arranged  the  subject  and  parts  to  be  demonstrated  myself. 
Of  late  years,  great  improvements  have  been  made  in  the 
latter  process  by  coloring  the  subjects  ;  so  that,  by  the  aid 
of  this,  I  could  make  a  splendid  exhibition  on  a  very  poor 
subject.  Besides  these  and  other  practical  anatomy  opera 
tions,  I  always  dissected  parts  which  I  was  about  to  operate 
on.  So,  in  case  of  an  approaching  operation  for  a  very  diffi 
cult  tumor,  I  dissected  all  the  parts  concerned,  even  to  the 
most  minute  nerve  and  blood-vessel ;  even  three  or  four  times 
in  some  instances.  Yet,  in  these  very  difficult  cases,  I  was 
often  baffled  by  the  vast  difference  in  the  appearance  of 
parts  changed  by  disease  from  those  in  a  healthy  state. 
This  diminished  with  time  and  habit ;  and  at  length  I  suc 
ceeded  in  doing  most  operations  with  a  confidence  of 
success. 

In  the  mean  time  (1827  and  subsequently),  the  Medical 
School  was  improving.  About  1828,  an  application  was 
made  by  the  Medical  Society  to  the  Legislature.  In  1830, 
the  application  was  renewed  ;  and  an  extensive  and  valuable 
Report  was  prepared  by  John  B.  Davis,  Esq.,  and  read  before 
the  House  of  Representatives. 

At  the  same  time,  I  gave  various  lectures  on  anatomy 
before  the  General  Court,  in  the  chamber  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  showing  them  the  absolute  necessity 
of  human  dissections  to  enable  physicians  to  treat  the 


1847.]  ANATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  411 

diseases  of  the  human  body ;  and  ultimately  succeeded 
in  obtaining  a  law  giving  up  the  bodies  of  unreclaimed 
paupers.  This  law  was  improved  in  1833,  and  again 
improved  about  1840.  The  Superintendent  of  the  House  of 
Industry  opposed  great  difficulties  to  the  execution  of  this 
law  ;  but,  he  dying  in  1847,  an  ample  supply  was  obtained 
for  the  Medical  School  afterwards,  particularly  in  conse 
quence  of  the  influx  of  Irish  paupers,  and  the  great  morta 
lity  among  them. 

While  we  were  in  Mason  Street,  there  was  a  pupil  in  the 
Medical  School  who  had  a  taste  for  procuring  subjects.  He 
sometimes  executed  the  business  alone.  On  one  occasion, 
he  was  in  the  South  Burial-ground  the  latter  part  of  the 
evening,  looking  for  a  subject  which  he  had  marked  during 
the  day.  While  he  was  taking  a  survey,  he  was  surprised 
by  a  party  of  watchmen,  who  took  him  to  the  watch-house, 
and  afterwards  released  him  on  condition  of  his  appearing 
at  the  Justice's  Court  the  following  morning.  He  accord 
ingly  appeared,  and  met  there  his  accusers,  who  charged 
him  with  being  in  the  burying-ground  for  the  purpose  of 
digging  up  one  or  more  bodies.  After  quietly  listening  to 
the  charge,  he  broke  out  in  terms  of  the  most  indignant 
character,  accusing  these  people  of  a  conspiracy  to  extort 
money  from  him  or  to  destroy  his  reputation,  and  threaten 
ing  them  with  an  action.  The  men  were  taken  by  surprise ; 
were  astonished  and  meek.  The  justice,  finding  he  had 
committed  no  act  of  an  illegal  nature,  discharged  the 
accusation  ;  and  the  watchmen  were,  glad  to  sneak  off 
without  more  words.  This  man  obtained  a  medical  de 
gree,  and  settled  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  where  he  may  be 
still  living. 

An  interesting  case  of  a  young  woman  who  died  in  the 
House  of  Industry  occurred  at  the  Medical  College  ten 


412  AMATOMICAL    DISSECTIONS.  [>ET.  69. 

years  ago.  Under  the  law  of  1830,  the  body  of  a  young 
woman,  about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  was  delivered  for 
dissection.  Two  days  after,  her  sister  came  to  me,  informed 
me  that  the  body  of  her  relative  had  been  removed  without 
her  knowledge,  and  begged  me  to  stay  any  further  dissec 
tions,  and  give  up  the  body  for  interment.  I  immediately 
agreed  to  her  request ;  and,  the  following  day,  the  relations 
met  at  the  Medical  College.  The  body  was  once  more 
placed  in  its  narrow  cell,  the  usual  ceremonies  were  per 
formed,  and  the  relatives  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
remains  again  deposited  in  the  ground,  and  well  covered 
with  earth. 

We  had  two  or  three  preparations  for  the  lectures  at 
Cambridge  before  I  visited  Europe  in  1799.  When  I  went 
to  London,  and  met  Senter  of  Newport,  he  began  directly 
to  talk  about  John  Hunter's  preparations.  Sir  Astley 
Cooper,  also,  was  at  that  time  quite  full  of  this  subject.  In 
consequence,  I  soon  became  infected  with  the  desire  of 
making  them,  and  commenced  in  earnest  the  study  of  the 
art  of  making  both  wet  and  dried  preparations. 

From  that  time  to  the  period  of  my  resignation  of  the 
Professorship  of  Anatomy,  I  availed  myself  of  all  oppor- 
tunies,  summer  and  winter,  from  year  to  year,  of  accom 
plishing  this  object ;  so  that  it  became  a  primary  occupation 
and  a  pleasure  ;  the  most  agreeable  relaxation  from  pro 
fessional  pursuits ;  and,  in  one  sense,  was  my  daily  meat 
and  drink.  The  idea  of  nicely  injecting  a  delicate  piece  of 
anatomy,  of  macerating  it  to  a  snow-like  whiteness,  and 
of  enclosing  it  in  an  elegant  glass  vessel  of  perfectly  trans 
parent  liquid,  had  more  charms  for  me  than  games  or 
plays  or  parties.  In  London,  I  made  some  very  nice  blood 
vessel  injections,  particularly  one  of  the  arteries  of  the  arm  ; 
which,  though  not  the  most  minute,  is  the  best  practical 


1847.]  PREPARATI01SS.  413 

exhibition  of  these  vessels,  taking  into  view  their  relations 
to  the  muscles,  which  I  know  of. 

Senter  was  ahead  of  me  in  this  art,  and  had  made  a 
collection,  which,  though  small,  contained  many  beautiful 
pieces.  These,  after  his  unfortunate  death,  I  purchased  of 
his  executors.  In  Paris,  Dubois  did  not  encourage  me  to 
pursue  this  subject.  He  recommended  me  to  stick  close 
to  the  recent  subject.  I  contrived,  however,  to  work  out  a 
number ;  and  whether  I  purchased  any,  I  do  not  recollect ; 
but  I  think  not. 

From  my  return  home  in  1802  to  1806,  there  being  a 
scarcity  of  subjects,  little  was  done  in  the  way  of  preser 
vation.  After  opening  a  dissecting-room  (No.  49,  Marlbo- 
rough  Street),  and  obtaining  a  copious  flow  of  good  subjects, 
preparations  went  on  rapidly  in  osteology,  in  blood-vessel 
injections,  and  in  alcoholic  wet  preparations.  But  I  did 
not  begin  to  purchase  till  we  obtained  the  new  Medical 
College  in  Mason  Street,  and  sufficient  room  for  displaying 
the  collection.  "We  had  a  good  dissecting-room,  conve 
niences  of  hot  and  cold  water,  means  of  disposing  of  the 
relics ;  and  the  collection  went  on  rapidly  till  a  room  about 
fifteen  by  twenty  feet  was  filled.  The  school  having  en 
larged,  and  the  accommodations  for  dissecting-pupils  being 
too  limited,  I  proposed  to  the  corporation,  with  the  consent 
of  my  colleagues,  that,  if  they  would  contribute  about  half 
the  expense  for  a  new  dissecting-room,  and  the  conversion  of 
the  old  into  a  museum,  I  would  pay  the  other  half.  This 
proposal  was  agreed  to ;  and  a  dissecting-room  was  erected, 
much  superior  to  the  present  one  in  the  Grove-street  Col 
lege.  The  old  dissecting-room  was  made  into  a  convenient 
museum.  I  had  now  room  to  make  macerations,  hot  and 
cold  dissections,  regular  and  methodical  arrangement  of  all 
the  articles  used  in  making  preparations,  and  comfortable 


414  PREPARATIONS.  [JEi.  69. 

quarters  for  any  assistants  independent  of  mine,  I  now 
passed  a  great  deal  of  time  in  my  private  dissecting-room : 
in  fact,  every  spare  hour  from  business  was  devoted  to  this 
object.  The  most  delicate  of  the  wet  preparations  I  dis 
sected,  made,  and  put  up  myself;  but  in  the  dissection  of 
arterial  preparations,  and  putting  up  the  gross  wet  prepara 
tions,  I  received  great  aid  from  my  pupils,  especially  from 
Dr.  William  Gamage,  jun.  With  his  aid,  I  made  some 
valuable  absorbent  preparations,  one  or  two  of  which  still 
remain  ;  others,  by  frequent  use,  have  lost  their  quicksilver. 
I  succeeded  in  getting  a  number  of  casts  made  here,  and 
also  some  very  beautiful  wax  preparations,  by  an  Italian, 
who  resided  here  for  some  time.  As  opportunity  offered,  I 
availed  myself  of  the  death  of  foreign  animals  to  make 
preparations  in  comparative  anatomy.  But,  notwithstanding 
a  strong  taste  for  this  department  of  science,  I  thought  it 
impossible  to  cultivate  it  without  sacrificing  surgery ;  and 
this  I  was  determined  not  to  do,  having  always,  after  the 
death  of  my  father,  held  up  to  myself  as  a  primary  duty 
the  perfect  qualification  for  the  safe  and  ready  performance 
of  every  known  operation  of  surgery :  so  that  much  time, 
which  I  could  gladly  and  gratefully  have  employed  on  com 
parative  anatomy,  was  occupied  with  the  more  important 
duty  of  perfecting  myself  in  dissections  of  parts  subject  to 
the  most  difficult  and  frequent  operations. 

The  facilities  for  such  dissections  were  much  increased 
by  methods  of  preparation  which  I  brought  from  Paris  in 
1838.  While  I  was  there,  Ganal  brought  into  use  the 
super-sulphate  of  alumine  for  embalming  and  otherwise 
preserving  dead  bodies.  The  method  of  Ganal  answered 
perfectly  for  preservation  ;  but,  when  parts  injected  with  it 
were  long  exposed  to  the  air,  they  became  dry  and  dark 
colored.  Ganal's  mode  was  to  inject  the  blood-vessels  with 


1847.]  PREPARATIONS.  415 

the  super-sulphate.  I  did  this,  and  then  immersed  the  body 
in  rum,  solutions  of  arsenic  and  of  corrosive  sublimate. 
By  this  method,  I  have  succeeded  in  preserving  subjects  for 
months,  and  even  years.  The  last  winter,  on  opening  a 
cask  to  examine  a  subject  which  had  remained  in  spirit 
about  eight  years,  as  nearly  as  we  could  tell,  it  was  found  to 
be  in  fine  preservation.  Two  other  subjects  had  been  pre 
served  at  least  four  years,  one  of  which,  when  taken  out  and 
dissected,  remained  on  the  dissecting-table  eight  weeks 
without  being  inconveniently  offensive. 

Dr.  Mason  Warren,  going  to  Europe  to  pursue  his  studies 
in  the  year  1832,  took  the  opportunity  of  selecting  a  con 
siderable  number  of  preparations,  particularly  a  collection 
of  morbid  bones,  among  which  were  many  curious  specimens. 
These  greatly  augmented  the  collection ;  and  when  in  Eu 
rope  myself,  a  few  years  after  him,  I  procured  many 
beautiful  osseous  pieces  of  Guerin  and  of  Guy.  Guy  also 
set  out  to  make  a  series  of  representations  of  cutaneous 
diseases  in  the  Hospital  St.  Louis  ;  but,  after  making  six  or 
eight,  he  stopped.  Shortly  after,  I  sent  to  Florence  for  a 
collection  of  absorbent  preparations  ;  but,  instead  of  what  I 
wished,  received  the  beautiful  pieces  in  wax.  This  led  me 
to  send  a  second  time,  and  obtain  the  real  absorbent  vessels. 
Besides  these,  I  obtained  from  Dr.  Lewis  two  very  good 
ones.  Subsequently,  Dr.  Mason  Warren,  being  compelled, 
in  pursuit  of  health,  to  visit  Europe  a  second  time,  made  a 
considerable  number  of  purchases,  particularly  in  osteology 
and  comparative  anatomy.  Both  of  us  obtained  a  number 
of  beautiful  pieces  from  Auzoux  in  papier-mache*,  some  in 
comparative  anatomy,  some  in  human  anatomy  and  embry 
ology. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  collection,  dissection,  and  preserva 
tion  of  morbid  specimens  went  on  from  year  to  year.  All 


416  PREPARATIONS.  [^T.  69. 

the  morbid  pieces  removed  in  operations  were  carefully 
macerated,  and  put  in  spirit.  But  after  this  came  a  neglect, 
which  was  the  source  of  many  troubles.  From  excess  of 
business,  I  often  neglected  to  mark  the  specimens.  After  a 
short  time,  their  identity  could  not  be  made  out ;  and  they 
were  lost,  or  remained  ever  after  in  a  state  of  uncertainty. 
This,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  still  occurs  sometimes.  When  the 
Hospital  was  first  opened,  I  had  all  the  operations ;  and  Dr. 
Jackson  gave  me,  at  first,  all  the  morbid  pieces  from  his 
subjects.  This  continued  till  the  Museum  of  the  Society  of 
Medical  Improvement  was  formed  ;  after  which,  most  of  the 
pathological  pieces  fell  into  their  hands. 

At  length  the  new  room  in  the  Medical  College  in  Mason 
Street  became  crowded  and  overflowing ;  and  one  day, 
meeting  Dr.  George  Parkman,  he  said,  "  I  never  pass  the 
Medical  College  without  an  apprehension  of  its  being 
burnt."  —  "  How  can  we  remedy  the  evil  ?  "  said  I.  "  Oh  !  " 
said  he,  "  you  must  get  a  new  place."  —  "  Well,"  said  I, 
"  where  is  the  money  to  come  from  ?  "  — "  Oh  !  you  can 
make  a  bargain  so  as  to  get  on  without  paying  any  thing." 
Two  or  three  years  after,  the  college  becoming  more  crowded, 
we  began  to  think  more  seriously  of  Dr.  Parkman's  sug 
gestion  ;  and  finally  a  negotiation  was  entered  into,  which 
terminated  in  his  giving  land  enough  in  Grove  Street  to 
build  a  college.  He  intended  also  to  have  cleared  away 
the  buildings  in  front  and  on  the  east  side,  and  was  actually 
engaged  in  arranging  the  matter  when  he  was  cut  off. 

The  new  college  was  built  on  his  land  in  Grove  Street, 
with  an  ample  museum.  Though  my  collection  was  found 
nearly  sufficient  to  fill  it,  since  then  I  have  given  additional 
preparations,  from  time  to  time,  as  opportunity  presented, 
and  particularly  the  collection  of  casts  made  by  the  Phreno 
logical  Society.  I  also  put  all  my  preparations  in  good 


1847.]  PREPARATIONS.  417 

order  when  they  were  presented  ;  as  well  as  the  Venus  de 
Medicis,  given  by  President  Everett,  and  the  Apollo  Belvi- 
dere,  which  I  purchased  from  Solomon  Willard,  given  by 
myself.  Dr.  J.  B.  S.  Jackson  has  now  arranged  all  these, 
marked  them  with  their  proper  names,  and  with  those  of 
the  donors.  The  Committee  of  Supervision  appointed  by 
the  corporation,  of  which  Dr.  James  Jackson  is  chairman, 
have,  at  my  suggestion,  arranged  and  proposed  a  set  of  rules 
for  regulating  the  use  of  the  preparations  by  the  professors, 
and  ascertaining  when  any  were  injured  or  lost. 

Dr.  Gamage  assisted  me  a  number  of  years,  and  made 
many  valuable  preparations.  He  at  last  gained  so  much 
information  in  anatomy  and  physiology  as  to  aim  at  the 
professorship  in  physiology.  The  state  of  the  school  not 
admitting  this,  he  gradually  separated  himself,  and  attended 
to  his  practice,  which  was  considerable.  He  took  some  odd 
notions  of  practice  ;  for,  having  adopted  the  system  of 
inflammation  as  the  cause  of  all  diseases,  he  bled  all  his 
patients.  It  was  said  he  bled  a  woman,  in  an  advanced  stage 
of  dropsy,  seventeen  times. 

He  was  ultimately  attacked  with  symptoms  of  dyspepsia, 
with  some  pulmonary  embarrassment.  For  this  he  bled 
himself,  and  was  thought  to  have  fallen  a  victim  to  his 
theory.  He  was  a  man  of  very  handsome  natural  abilities ; 
of  great  industry  and  perseverance ;  was  becoming  a  learned 
man  at  the  time  of  his  death ;  and  would,  notwithstanding 
his  ultra  theories,  have  probably  made  a  figure  in  his  pro 
fession,  had  he  lived. 

The  following  instances  will  give  some  idea  of  the  labor 
and  the  risk  of  obtaining  specimens  for  an  anatomical  col 
lection.  A  patient  in  a  public  institution,  which  I  attended 
at  the  time,  had  two  unreduced  dislocations.  He  had  also 
two  herniae ;  one  of  which  contained  nearly  all  the  intes- 

53 


418  PREPARATIOSS.  '.{JE'i\  69. 

tinal  tract,  from  the  duodenum  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
rectum.      It   extended   to   the   knees,   and   was  supported 
by  a  round  towel,  formed  by  uniting  the  two  ends,  called  a 
"  roller,"  slung  over  his  shoulder.     This  man  having  died  of 
premature  old  age,  I  dissected  out  the  whole  articulation  of 
the  shoulder  on  each  side,  containing  the  scapula,  clavicle, 
and  half  of  the  os  humeri,  and  tied  them  in  a  cloth.     A 
portion  of  round  stick  was  then  inserted  in  place  of  the 
deficient   ossa   humeri,   and   the   skin   sewed   over.     Next 
the  skin  was  dissected  from  around  the  pelvis ;  the  anterior 
spinous  process  of  the  ilium,  with  the  connected  muscles, 
were  sawn  out.    The  whole  digestive  tube,  from  the  stomach 
to  the  rectum,  was  then  dissected  out,  and  removed,  en 
masse,  in  common  with  the  muscles,  and  portions  of  bone ; 
the   abdomen   filled  with  old  woollen  cloths,  and   neatly 
sewed  up.     The  parts  were  then  treated  in  the  following 
manner :  Portions  were  sawn  out  of  another  pelvis  to  cor 
respond  with  the  pieces  on  the  removed  intestines  ;  then 
the  vessels  of  the   intestines  were  tied,  by  first  injecting 
water  into  them  through  the  iliac  artery,  —  the  labor  of 
securing  all  the  small  vessels  in  such  an  immense  surface 
being  very  great ;  this,  however,  was  happily  accomplished ; 
—  then  a  wax  injection  was  thrown  into  the  aorta,  the  whole 
system  of  mesenteric  arteries  injected,  and  the  two  epigas- 
trics,  encircling  the  mouths  of  the  two  hernial  sacs,  were 
beautifully  injected  and  displayed ;  the  intestines  were  then 
inflated  and  carefully  tied ;  they  were  then  fitted  into  the 
new  pelvis,  —  the  spinous  processes  of  the  old  being  fastened 
to  the  sawn  excavations  in  the  new.     The  piece  was  then 
suspended,  carefully  dried,  varnished,  and  is  now  in  the 
Medical  College,  in  a  state  of  perfect  preservation.     The 
junction   of    the   old   and   new   pelvis   would   scarcely  be 
noticed.     In  fact,  no  person,  I  believe,  has  any  suspicion 


1847.]  PREPARATIONS.  419 

that  the  pelvis  and  the  viscera  belong  to  two  different  per 
sons. 

A  lady,  more  than  a  hundred  years  old,  fell  on  the 
trochanter,  and  broke  the  neck  of  the  thigh-bone.  She 
appeared  to  be  doing  very  well ;  but,  a  month  after  the 
accident,  suddenly  died.  It  was  important  to  examine  and 
preserve  the  fractured  part.  Permission  was  given.  The 
pelvis  was  carefully  dissected  out  with  a  quarter  of  the 
shaft  of  the  thigh-bone  ;  a  piece  of  stick  was  placed  in  con 
nection  with  the  spine,  and  the  skin  sewn  over ;  and  then 
the  body  was  placed  in  its  coffin.  This  pelvis  exhibits  the 
fracture  of  the  neck  of  the  thigh-bone  with  the  union  of 
the  fracture,  without  shortening  of  the  .limb  ;  the  fracture 
being  an  enclavement. 

A  very  remarkable  individual,  of  the  Indian  race,  was  ill 
in  a  public  institution  in  this  city.  He  had  a  softening  of 
all  the  large  longitudinal  bones  from  rickets,  and  one  or 
more  new  joints  formed  in  them.  The  thigh-bone  had,  I 
think,  three  of  these  false  articulations.  The  lower  limbs 
were  curved  so  as  to  form  nearly  a  semicircle.  The  patient 
never  walked,  but  sat  in  a  large  wooden  bowl,  which  he 
gradually  moved  onwards  with  his  hands  by  a  lateral  pro 
gression.  The  man  died,  aged  about  twenty-one  years.  It 
was  very  important  to  prevent  the  body  from  being  buried 
and  decomposed.  With  the  permission  of  the  head  of  the 
establishment,  I  took  the  body  out  of  the  coffin,  placed 
it  in  a  bag,  and  substituted  a  log  of  wood.  The  log  was 
quietly  interred ;  the  body  taken  in  my  chaise  to  the 
Medical  College.  The  undertakers,  some  time  afterwards, 
intimated  that  they  should  be  glad  to  have  a  smaller  log  the 
next  time,  and  that  it  should  be  fixed  in  the  coffin  so  as  to 
prevent  its  rolling  from  side  to  side. 

Such  instances  as  the  above   may   appear   improper   to 


420  PREPARATIONS. 


those  who  do  not  appreciate  the  importance  of  the  objects. 
But  the  surgeon  and  the  teacher  have  a  high  moral  duty  to 
perform  to  their  patients  and  to  the  community;  and,  in  the 
eye  of  reason  and  religion,  they  will  be  less  culpable  for 
preserving  articles  so  very  important  and  useful,  than  if, 
through  fear  or  neglect,  they  allowed  them  to  be  wasted  in 
the  bottom  of  a  grave.  **:*L 


END    OF    VOL.    I. 


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LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-70m-9,'6.j(F7151s4)458 


N°  443195 


Barren,  E. 

The  life  of  John 
Collins  Warren. 


R15U 
W26 

TJ2 

V.I 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


